Your Prayer Lifeline, May 2
Written by David Gira
“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26 NIV).
While cancer can cause you to want to pray more than ever, you may not know how to pray. Maybe you have never prayed. Possibly you have prayed, but now everything you knew about it seems insufficient, and you do not have the strength. No matter where you are, God promises to help you pray.
Mrs. McBane, at nearly 100 years old, had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for several years. Steadily, this sweet Southern lady’s cognitive state had deteriorated to the point of rarely recognizing her own daughter, who visited daily. Mrs. McBane didn’t know where she was or who she was.
She had always been smart, strong, and even a little bit sassy. A lifelong Christian, having grown up in the church, she had known Jesus Christ since childhood. She raised her family in the faith, and for many years had been a leader in the church. I was honored to be the pastor of her church.
Seeing her suffering pained her daughter and the rest of her family. On one of my pastoral visits to see Mrs. McBane, they expressed their deepest concerns. Did she know they loved her? Did she know God loved her? Did she know she would go to heaven? Could she still pray?
I addressed their fears, reassuring them of God’s great love for her. When the time came to leave, I asked the family to join me in prayer. We held hands around Mrs. McBane and began, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name….”
To our amazement, she joined in with us, remembering each word. I felt inspired to sing the old hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Again, Mrs. McBane smiled and sang along!
Her lifetime of faith had woven these sacred words deep into her being. Despite the disease, God refused to allow them to be stolen. Together we witnessed the Holy Spirit at work in her helping her to pray, even during her suffering. This greatly comforted us all.
The Apostle Paul, the New Testament faith hero, wrote often about death threats, beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, endless hardships, and a “thorn in his side.” He knew about praying while suffering.
Even this preacher, master teacher, and debater at times found himself without words or the strength to pray. To encourage us, he testifies, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26).
In your cancer journey, there will be times when you do not know what to pray for. Some days, you may not have the strength to form words. You may feel let down by God and not want to speak to Him. This may be the first time you have ever thought of praying. In all these moments, the Holy Spirit is there to help you pray. Just ask.
Pray: Lord, send your Holy Spirit to help me pray. Teach me what to pray for and empower me to pray like You. When I am at a loss for words and unable to pray, thank You for praying for me. Amen.
Your Turn: We can’t pray apart from the help of the Holy Spirit. The song “Holy Spirit” sung by Francesca Battistelli invites the Holy Spirit into our lives. As you listen, ask God to pour out the Holy Spirit upon you!
Michael David Gira, Jr., Cancer Survivor
David was an ordained United Methodist Pastor and graduate of Duke Divinity School. He and his wife, Amy, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina with their three children. In 2017 he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. In his book, How Cancer Cured Me, he shares many ways he experienced God’s healing. After a 7 year battle with cancer, David is now joyously singing praises in God’s glorious throne room. His legacy lives on through his writing for Cancer Companions, as he continues to proclaim Christ’s hope and healing power to others experiencing cancer. https://www.davidgira.com/how-cancer-cured-me
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
To learn more about our ministry and the services we provide visit our website by clicking here.
