25 Prayers for the Sick in the Bible
The Scripture is a powerful book with available solutions to every life situation, including the need for healing. Prayer is such a mighty weapon of faith, and we’ll endeavor to walk you through some prayers for the sick in the Bible and how to apply them.
These prayers will positively impact your faith journey if you’re trusting God for healing, either for yourself or a loved one. They will uncover new realms of supernatural possibilities for you and empower you to trust God more.
Be encouraged, as God hasn’t left you to battle life’s challenges alone. So, take a step of faith and ask for His help.
As you read these powerful prayers for the sick in the Bible, may God’s healing power surround you and bring the health turnaround you desire.
Prayers for the Sick in the Old Testament
Prayer has always been a powerful tool for obtaining healing. From Genesis to Malachi, we have a plethora of health conditions being cured as people prayerfully believed in God. Strengthen your faith by meditating on these powerful prayers for the sick and the events surrounding them:
King David’s Prayer for His Sick Son (2 Samuel 12:15-23)
Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it was very sick. David, therefore begged God for the child, and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his house arose beside him, to raise him up from the earth, but he would not, and he didn’t eat bread with them. On the seventh day, the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn’t listen to our voice. How will he then harm himself if we tell him that the child is dead?” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead, and David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing, and he came into Yahweh’s house and worshipped. Then he came to his own house; and when he requested, they set bread before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child was dead, you rose up and ate bread.” He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Hezekiah’s Prayer for His Own Healing (2 Kings 20:1-11)
In those days, Hezekiah was sick and dying. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, came to him and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Set your house in order; for you will die, and not live.’” Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh, saying, “Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out into the middle part of the city, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, “Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, ‘Yahweh, the God of David your father, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day, you will go up to Yahweh’s house. I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”’” Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.” They took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that Yahweh will heal me and that I will go up to Yahweh’s house the third day?” Isaiah said, “This will be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken: should the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” Hezekiah answered, “It is a light thing for the shadow to go forward ten steps. No, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.” Isaiah the prophet cried to Yahweh, and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.
Elijah’s Prayer for the Widow of Zarephath’s Son (1 Kings 17:17-24)
After these things, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick, and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory and to kill my son!” He said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him out of her bosom and carried him up into the room where he stayed and laid him on his own bed. He cried to Yahweh and said, “Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I am staying by killing her son?” He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh my God, please let this child’s soul come into him again.” Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the room into the house, and delivered him to his mother, and Elijah said, “Behold, your son lives.” The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that Yahweh’s word in your mouth is truth.”
Elisha’s Prayer for Naaman’s Leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14)
Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.” Someone went in, and told his lord, saying, “The maiden who is from the land of Israel said this.” The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman, my servant, to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.” When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.” It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’ Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’” Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Prayers for the Sick in the New Testament
Jesus’ compassion for the sick left a lasting impression almost everywhere He went (Acts 10:38). Whenever you need to say a prayer for a sick friend, a family member, or yourself, turn to these Biblical prayers for the sick uttered by the Lord Jesus Himself.
Jesus’ Prayer for the Paralytic Man (Matthew 9:1-8)
He entered into a boat and crossed over, and came into his own city. Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.” Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.” Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.” He arose and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Jesus’ Prayer for the Woman With a Fever (Matthew 8:14-17)
When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her. So she got up and served him. When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Jesus’ Prayer for the Blind Man (John 9:1-7)
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.
Jesus’ Prayer for the Deaf and Mute Man (Mark 7:32-37)
They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” Immediately, his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly. He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it. They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”
Jesus’ Prayer for the Man With a Withered Hand (Matthew 12:9-13)
He departed from there and went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.” Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored whole, just like the other.
How to Pray for the Sick Today
God wants to heal the sick and often wants to do it through His children. Many healing scriptures prove this point. In Mark 16:17-18, the Lord Jesus says those who believe in His name will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
You can act on this promise in faith, trusting God to make His Word good and release His healing power to drive out sicknesses and diseases.
When it comes to praying for the sick, faith is important. James 1:7 warns that anyone who prays with doubt in their heart will not receive anything of the Lord. Building your faith will require you to read Bible verses for healing and spend a good amount of time meditating on them.
Once your faith and trust in God’s healing power are roused, go ahead and say your prayer. It is a communication between you and your Father, so talk like you would about any other case. Be simple and specific about what you want.
In your prayer, remember to ask God to grant the sick person peace and comfort. Most importantly, tell God to have His way.
Additional Prayers
Apart from the prayer excerpts from the Scripture highlighted above, here are other simple and powerful short Christian prayers for the sick and prayers for specific illnesses you can say while trusting God for healing:
Prayers for Healing the Sick
Lord Jesus, I thank You because my life is always in Your hands. I know You care about me and even more about my health. I acknowledge that Your mighty power is able to heal me from all sicknesses and diseases. I release myself to You today for healing. Heal me of my pains and renew my strength. Lord, I ask that You bless me with good health in my body, soul, and spirit.
Heavenly Father, Your Word tells me that You want me to prosper in health. Let Your desire for good health be established in my life, Lord. I put my trust in the unfailing ability of Your Word. I ask for strength and vitality to my frail and weak bones so that I may live to declare Your goodness in the land of the living. Grant me wholeness in every area of my life. Thank You for being my Healer and Helper.
Prayers for Strength and Courage
Dear God, You have always been my source of strength and courage. I thank You for your divine strength that has brought me this far. But for Your strength, I would have failed. I acknowledge that I don’t have the strength and courage to navigate life’s journey successfully. I release myself to Your divine power. Please strengthen me and renew my hope. Grant me strength over each of my weaknesses, and give me the courage to trust in You always.
Lord, I need Your courage to overcome my fears and worries. I pray You give me the spirit of courage, power, and sound mind as You promised. Help me boldly face every life situation with the conviction that You are with me. Take away the spirit of fear and help me to experience Your divine love as I go through every life circumstance. Grant me the boldness to say no to every temptation and help me stand in Your will for my life. Thank you, Lord Jesus, because You are faithful to Your Word.
Prayers for Hope and Faith
Dear Lord,
I believe You are all I need to scale through the hurdles of life. I seek to trust You more. Bring my weary heart to Your ocean of calmness. Let not the chaos around me slip into my soul. Teach me to keep Your peace and strength tight when worries and doubts arise. Strengthen my hope in You, Lord. Let me wake up each morning with an unwavering assurance that all will be well. Thank You for the blessings I see and even those I cannot see.
Gracious Lord, I have come to Your holy throne in my daze and confusion, seeking hope and faith. Your love is like an overflowing spring. It finds me even in the deepest part of despair. I ask that You remind me of Your unfailing promises and let them nourish my zeal to move ahead. Strengthen my faith in you. Help me walk in the assurance that my future is secured in your love. Thank you, Lord, for I know your love has rescued me from the pit of despair.
Prayers for the Sick and Their Families
Lord Jesus, I present to You my friends whose lives have been smitten by sickness. You are the fountain that gives life; come and revitalize their weakened bodies. Look upon their families with Your mercy. They have poured out their lives for their sick members. Do not let them be discouraged. Do not let their hope be cut short as they eagerly look forward to the day that sickness will give way and joy will be restored.
Merciful Father, in my crossroad of gloom, my soul calls out to You. I don’t know the next moment of my life, but I have chosen to trust You. I know You care for me, and only You can make me whole. Let Your whispers of love comfort me. My family is torn apart because of my ailment, and it is not my wish to put them through this distress. Do not let them be discouraged. I know You care for them. Please grant them the courage and comfort that comes with Your love. Thank you, Lord, for I know I am walking my journey to wellness with You by my side.
Prayers for Doctors and Nurses
Heavenly Father, You’re the greatest physician and the Giver of wisdom and intellect. I thank You for giving us a measure of your wisdom. You gave the doctors and nurses the intelligence to treat the sicknesses of those for whose salvation Your Son died. Grant them the inspiration they need to handle the precious lives under their care. Enlighten their eyes so that they can read between the unspoken words of patients. Fill their souls with empathy to care for the sick patiently.
Dear God, I thank you for the doctors and nurses. I know it is Your grace that has called them to this integral role of service to humanity. Bless them with the gift of discernment so that they will be excellent at their jobs. Give them the large heart they need to carry out caregiving and treatment with empathy. When they feel burnt out, replenish their strength. Thank You, for You will be faithful to them.
Prayers for Miracles
My dear Father, You revealed yourself as a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire to the Israelites. Even the whole earth trembles at the sound of Your voice. I am convinced that nothing is impossible for You and eagerly trust You for a miracle. You can turn my situation around in a twinkle of an eye. My soul waits on You with the confidence that You are able. While I wait, Lord, do not let my heart grow weary. Thank You, Lord, for Your love and for renewing my faith.
God Wants Us to Live Healthy Lives
God doesn’t intend for us to live in sickness and pain. His will for us is to live healthy and productive lives. In Exodus 23:25, He introduced Himself to the Israelites as Rapha (the Healer).
Reading the healing scriptures above, His voice still resounds that healing is His will.
Our Father God is the same powerful Healer we read about in the Bible. He is the same God with the same story. His healing power remains, and you can prayerfully reach out to Him in faith to heal you and your loved ones when afflicted with sickness or disease.
Trust Him to do the impossible in your life and the lives of others. Pray the prayers above for yourself and others needing healing. Say the prayers for the dying; say them for sick family members.
In faith, reach out to God through prayer and word study today. As you prayerfully trust Him, may His divine power restore health to your body.
