Praying for others

I am a doctor by profession...I heal my sick patients by diagnosing their illness, prescribing medications & giving words of encouragement /assurance so that I could boost their spirits. Most of the time I am not just their doctor but also their friend whom they can trust, seek comfort & be their shoulder to cry on. There were times when my secretary would ask me why I spent so much time with some of my patients. I needed to spend some time to listen to their dilemma & pacify (in some way) their woes...I usually develop a deeper connection with them, more than just a doctor-patient relationship.

Just last week, I had a Pancreatic Cancer patient, who didn't know his dilemma. I talked with the daughter & wife more often because I could explain the patient's condition only with them. In the process, I gave them my personal opinion & inadvertently established a personal connection with them. Maybe because I had the same experience from my Mom's battle against Parotid Gland Cancer. I could relate with them, with their situation. I understand (& I can even feel) what they are enduring right now. My Mom's formidable fight has left a mark...a deep mark in my heart (that up to now is still hurting me so bad) & proved that cancer is a ruthless ailment...a merciless strife wherein no victim escapes defeat, no matter how arduous the struggle is.

It depends on how the patient himself accepts his predicament...there are those who decide to fight, but there are also who choose to simply but bravely accept their fate...so my advice largely depends on the patient's understanding & acceptance of his illness...his destiny.

After each day of work in my clinic, I pray for them because I believe that God is using me (& my fellow doctors) as an instrument for healing. I may not rescue them from cancer...or their verdict, but I may endow them with some emotional & spiritual healing. I pray for these special patients to allow God to intervene & give them their salvation. May God strengthen them more as they approach the inevitable end...

Why Do I Pray?

When I was saying my bedtime prayers, I realized that I usually pray for a very specific reason. A lot of times & many of us consider prayer as a "requesting for something" dialogue with God. I believe that God does not mind, because what is more important for Him is that we remember Him, we communicate with Him & we let Him feel that He is always involved in everything that we think & do. Acknowledging God is one way of thanking Him for His love for us ...with His love He has saved us!

Since college, my Theology professors had instilled in my mind the body of an ideal prayer, the perfect example is "The Lord's Prayer".

In my prayers, I praise God & thank Him for all that He has done for me & my family...I give thanks for each new day & for protecting us during the night. Everytime I pray, I ask for good health & well being of my loved ones, including my friends...& those who hate me.

Sometimes, I have special prayers for special & specific situations. But I always tell God that I believe that He knows what I really need, so it's up to Him to give me what He knows is the best for me.

When I pray for something, I do not expect God to answer it concretely & immediately. I believe that He has different responses to prayers, it could be yes, no or wait. God has His own reasons. He knows what is right for us. I always keep in mind that He has different ways in answering our prayers...ways we may not understand at first. Just because our prayers are not answered in the way that we want doesnot mean that He did not listen. God wants us to think, deliberate on what we are asking for. Most of the time, I just surrender everything to Him. I believe that the prayers that are consistently answered are those with "Thy will be done!"

Then I ask forgiveness for the bad deeds & thoughts I committed. I also forgive those who did wrong to me. Honestly, this part is not easy to do, especially when you are deeply hurt...but I just think about how merciful our Almighty God is so that He will make it easier for me to be forgiving, too.

At the end of all my prayers, I say "Your will be done, my dear God! Amen".

Why & how do you pray, my friend?