A Prayer For Laura Poem by Daniel Partlow

Jesus, why was this young man born blind?
Was it his sin, or the sins of his parent.
It was neither, but he was so afflicted,
That through him, the truth might be apparent.

Lord, you have used suffering and healing
That others might believe.
Please Lord, heal my sister,
That I and others too may cease to grieve.

Lord, you answered my prayer for a sister
And you knew that I would love her dearly
You forsaw that her faith would be a struggle
That, like billions of others, she would not see clearly.

In your infinite wisdom,
You made her my beloved sister
That I would be driven to apologetics
That in some way, I might assist her.

And that in ministering to her
I might also minister to a generation of the lost
Who like her, have followed the tempest
And in the secular waves been tossed.

Then God, I pray, I beg you,
let now be the hour
When her deliverance is used
To show the world your power.

When Miriam, Moses sister
Became doubtful and proud, Your wrath was not withheld
But when Moses pleaded for mercy
You allowed yourself to be impelled

When he interceded on her behalf
To remove her leprous infection
You allowed that she would be accepted
Back after seven days of dejection.

Indeed the family would not
Move on without her restoration.
So Lord, As her brothers cried
Out in exasperation…

‘Please, my lord, do not hold against us
The sinful lot we have so foolishly drawn
Do not let my sister be a stillborn infant
Emerging from the matrix with flesh half gone’

‘O God, please heal her! ’
As you have healed me.
That we may be together as family
With you, for all eternity.

Dear God,

You gave me a sister, whom I love dearly, but she doesn’t know you.
I love her, and want her to know the same peace and faith you’ve given me. Her suffering has been the oyster’s grain of sand which has inspired me to apologetics, and yielded a beautiful pearl. Let that pearl now be complete with her redemption. God, Please bless her with faith in your grace and love.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

A Prayer for Laura to Pray (How to ask for help)

Dear God,

I may not have been willing to accept you because of those past obstructions. You know what they are, and though they maybe many, let’s call them thing one and thing two.

But I do definitely sense the afflictions, perhaps because of them. I may not understand why it is there, and I may not understand why thing one and thing two entered my life, but I ask you now for healing. I trust that in your own time and your own way you will.

Why did you make the blind from birth blind? Well, when his vision was finally given, he rejoiced and that question no longer mattered. Please open my heart and grant me the sight to banish thing one and thing two. Just as that previously blind man became a testimony for others, let my recovery be a testimony to your glory.

It is written that you are the shepherd that comes looking for all his lost sheep. Here, I am Lord, please come and get me. Like the prodigal who wandered off, I now want to come home, please open my eyes to the way, strenghten my resolve, and help me to overcome the difficulties I will face.
In Jesus Name,
Amen