End-of-Life Spiritual Care
Prayers for Comfort and Guidance
Prayer suggestions to build faith and help your loved one as they go through their transition.
​
​
One of the most powerful things we can do for someone who is dying is to pray for them. During this time, we can pray for our loved one to have the peace and the presence of the Lord as they make their transition. Request that the Lord comfort and deliver our loved one into His kingdom, giving thanks for their life.
​
As our loved ones near the end of their life, we can pray for God's mercy, grace, and love to ease their passing from this life.
​
"Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." ~ Ephesians 6:18
We all will experience death one day, but that doesn't make it an easy thing to face. We can so easily fear the end of our lives or focus our attention on things of this world instead of the glory to come in heaven, but we as believers can take comfort that God cares about our grief and Jesus understands our pain.
​
​
Job 14:5 says, "A man's days are numbered. You know the number of his months. He cannot live longer than the time You have set."
God has a specific plan for each and every one of our lives, even if we might wish for a different outcome for ourselves or our loved ones. His plans are perfect and he desires the very best for each of his beloved children.
Keeping this in mind, the dying process and moment of death will happen the way it is supposed to happen. You will be where you need to be when the moment happens, whether holding hands at the bedside or moments away from the hospital or across the country. Be comforted in knowing this.
We can find great peace in the presence of our Lord, even in our grief, our fear, our pain, and our final breaths. We will all face our physical death one day so let us have faith in Jesus for eternal life, redeeming us from sin and spiritual death.
​
​Reading the Bible has a spiritual power that can give everyone hope, make them feel safe, and bring comfort to all who are suffering. Reading the Bible to someone that is actively dying in the hospice can be very helpful to direct and uplift the situation.
​The following verses and passages of Scripture can bring faith, answers, and healing to the person who is dying, as well as the family, and those at their bedside. Read through them over time or look for selected verses appropriate for the time.
​​
Excerpts from End-of-Life Spiritual Care the book:
​
​
​
​
​
​
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever.
So be it.
​
​
Short Scripture Verses
​
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:35 NIV
Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8 NIV
If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.
So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:8 NIV
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. Psalm 25:1 NIV
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 BSB
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 ESV
And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 NIV
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4 NIV
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Pray the following prayers as led by the Spirit, inserting your loved one’s name into the prayer.
Prayer to Know Yeshua Before Dying
“Heavenly Father, we pray for the salvation of our loved one who is close to death. If they do not know You personally, we ask that as they face the end of their life on this earth, to make Yourself known to them.”
“May they confess their sins and receive forgiveness. May they believe in their heart and confess with their mouth that Your shed blood, death and resurrection have made a way for them to live forever with You.”
“Lord Jesus, Come into our loved one’s life. Cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Move into their heart. Let them receive You are their Lord and Savior. So be it.”
Believing that hearing is the last sense to go, you can ask your loved one to accept the Lord as their Savior in their heart, even if they cannot respond outwardly.
​
Short Prayers and Intentions for Your Loved One
“Heavenly Father, let our loved one know Your love as they make their journey to heaven. Surround them with Your love.”
“Help our loved one to know that You are with them during this time of transition. Give peace to their soul and spirit as they move into the afterlife. “
“Make our loved one’s passage easy. Give them the strength and grace they need to face the issues of life they need to put to rest.”
“Send the Spirit of Truth to bring clarity to the issues of life that need to be addressed and understood.”
“Deliver our loved one from all anguish and distress, release them from this earth and take them to Yourself in Your Kingdom."
“Have compassion for our loved one and calm their anxious cries and groans. Give them peace. Let them see Your kingdom and the place that You have graciously prepared for them from the beginning of this world.”
“Help them to make peace with themselves and others during this time.”
“Give them the ability to forgive any people that have hurt them, physically or emotionally.”
​
“Blot out their transgressions from the Book of Remembrance.”
“Bless our loved one for the love they have given to others throughout their life.”
“We ask for the loved ones who are already there in heaven to be with our loved one to help them with their transition.”
“Thank You Lord that You have been preparing a place for our loved one.”
“We ask for a warm welcome to the next phase of their eternal life.”
“We ask these things through Yeshua ha Mashiach, Jesus the Christ, Your Holy Son, our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. So be it.”
Prayers for Knowing How to Help Our Loved One
“Help us to create a sacred environment for our loved one while they are passing.”
“Let us be sensitive to our loved one’s physical and spiritual needs. Help us to know when to stop giving food, water, meds. Help us to know when to pray with them and comfort them.”
“Help us to make the most of every moment together and realize that simply holding our loved one’s hand is one of the most important things we can do.”
“Help us to calm any fears our loved one may have.”
“Help us to guide them to the truth through Your Word.”
“Creator God, be a witness of the eternal life that awaits those who call on Your Name.”
A Prayer for the Family of the Deceased
“Father God, be with our loved one and our family at this time. Provide us with Your comfort. We pray for peace knowing that our loved one is in Your care. We are thankful that our loved one is at rest. We are thankful for eternal life.”
“Lord God, let us feel Your presence. Send the Comforter to console us in our time of mourning. Help us to understand what has happened and what life is truly about. Heal our hearts from the loss of our loved one.”
