by By Whitney Hopler
Source/Credit
Raphael, holy archangel and patron saint of healing, I thank God for making you compassionate toward people who are struggling physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Please heal me of the specific wounds to my soul and body that I bring before you in prayer. Archangel Raphael, as God’s messenger, deliver power from God to me when I pray, empowering me to break free of burdens that are hindering my good health and develop healthy habits that will renew me like a breath of fresh air.
Physically, help me take good care of my body by guiding me to eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and manage stress well. Help me recover from illnesses and injuries to my body, as fully as I can, according to God’s will.
Mentally, give me the clarity I need to evaluate my thoughts and feelings in light of God’s perspective so I can discern what’s really true about myself, other people, and God. Help me focus my mind on positive, healthy thoughts rather than on negative, unhealthy thoughts. Change my thinking patterns so I won’t be stuck in any kind of addiction but can make my relationship with God my highest priority and center everyone and everything else around that. Teach me how to concentrate well on what matters most instead of getting distracted by what’s not really important in life.
Emotionally, please deliver God’s healing for my pain so I can find peace. Urge me to confess the difficult feelings I struggle with – such as anger, anxiety, bitterness, envy, insecurity, loneliness, and lust – to God, so I can access God’s help to respond to those feelings in healthy ways. Comfort me when I’m dealing with pain that has resulted from other people hurting me (like betrayal), pain that has come into my life through loss (like grief) or when I’m dealing with a disease that torments my emotions (like depression).
Spiritually, inspire me to develop healthy habits that will strengthen my faith in God, such as reading my religion’s sacred texts, praying, meditating, participating in worship services, and serving people in need as God leads me to do so. Help me get rid of impure habits in my life (such as watching pornography, telling lies, or gossiping about others) so I won’t open spiritual portals for evil to come through and harm my health, or the health of other people. Teach me what I need to do to grow in purity and become more like the person God intends me to become.
May your concern for all of God's creation on Earth – including people, animals, and plants -- inspire me to do my part to take good care of others and the environment on this wonderful planet that God has made. Show me how God wants me to compassionately reach out to those who are hurting to help bring healing into their lives. Whenever someone in my circle of family and friends is hurting, bring that to my attention and show me specific ways I can help alleviate his or her pain. If I have a job in any part of the health care industry, help me do my best to help heal others with each opportunity that comes my way. Teach me how to take good care of any pets I own (from dogs and cats to birds and horses) and to respect the dignity of every animal I encounter. Motivate me to protect Earth's natural resources and show me how I can make daily decisions that help the environment, such as recycling and conserving energy.
Thank you all of your healing care, Raphael. Amen.
