Peace be with you,
My soul friends.
May you receive the healing that's intended for you through this prayerful reflection that I adapted from the healing prayer of St.
Francis de Sales,
Who was a mystic and a saint during the early 1600s.
I'll first read it as a reflection from the Holy Spirit speaking to you,
And then afterward I'll read it a second time as a response of prayer with silence for you to repeat aloud as you choose.
Much gratitude to the Divine Spirit that spoke through Francis and now speaks in each one of us.
As you sit attentively with your eyes closed,
Become aware of your body being held by the chair.
Feel your feet resting on the floor.
The presence of the Living God,
The Great I Am,
Is holding you and sustaining your life,
Your very breath.
And with each breath,
Settle deeper into the great silence within,
That great pool of stillness.
Receive these words as you open up your heart,
Your mind,
And soul from the presence of the Holy Spirit,
Who is coming to you in this very moment,
Who is speaking to you to transform your thinking,
To renew your mind and bring you healing.
Do not look forward in fear and anxiety to the changes,
The challenges,
And chances of this life.
They are inevitable.
Rather,
Look forward in hope with full confidence that as changes and challenges arise,
God,
To whom you belong,
Will in his love enable you to profit by them and will deliver you.
For God is your keeper.
God has guided you up to this point in your life and he will continue to lead you safely through all things,
Including all trials and triumphs.
And when you cannot stand,
God will bear you in his arms.
So release your grip on worry and hold tightly to the hands of God,
Who is safely leading you.
Do not look forward in fear to what may happen tomorrow,
For the same everlasting God who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day after.
For God will either shield you from suffering and when it is necessary,
God will give you unfailing strength and courage to bear it.
Therefore,
Put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations and be at peace,
For grace abounds to you in this very moment and all the moments of your life.
Receive,
Believe,
And live.
And now,
As you continue to remain in the stillness and the great silence,
May this be your prayer.
My Lord and my God,
I need your help,
For I don't want to look forward to life with fear and anxiety.
So help me look to today and tomorrow in hope with full confidence that as any challenges or changes may arise.
You my God,
Through your love for me,
Will enable me to grow and expand through these challenges and changes.
You are my keeper.
You have guided me thus far in life and you will lead me safely through all things.
You will lead me safely through all trials.
You will lead me safely through all triumphs.
And when I cannot stand,
When I feel weak and heavy burdened,
Hold me in your arms.
I release my grip on worry,
On fear,
On doubt.
And I hold tightly to your hands that are safely leading me home.
Help me to not look forward with anxiety and heaviness of heart to what may happen tomorrow.
For you care for me unfailingly and unconditionally today.
And you will take care of me tomorrow and every day after.
My God,
Shield me from suffering.
But when suffering is my experience,
Give me unfailing strength and courage to bear it.
Therefore,
I put aside the anxious,
Stressful thoughts and imaginations.
And I am at peace.
For grace abounds to me in this very moment.
And all the moments of my life to come.
Let it be so.
Let it be now.
Let it be.
Amen.
