A Prayer for Those of Us Who Still Need a Doctor
Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17 NIV)
Gracious Jesus, we often read this text looking in the rearview mirror, as though we no longer need your medicinal care— as though we only used to be big sinners needing the Great Physician to heal us. How we wish that were the whole diagnosis.
We’re thrilled you’ve already given us the perfect and permanent “health” of justification. We cannot and will not ever be more justified than we already are in you, Jesus. We’ve been completely healed of our cancerous and condemning guilt. The gospel is our declaration of a clean bill of righteousness health. In that sense, we’re no longer a sick sinner— but only in that sense.
For the more of your beauty we behold in the Scriptures, Jesus, the more fully the gravity of our condition is revealed. We need you today as much as the first moment you called us from death to life. You’re the only doctor with the mercy and might sufficient for our many, many needs.
Jesus, as you’ve freed us from the guilt of our sin, please heal us more fully from its shame. Few maladies in this fallen world hold greater debilitating power than shame. We cannot love others well if we’re living with the dark paralysis of shame.
We’re not asking for greater self-esteem. We’ve not victims making excuses but your beloved bride crying out for greater gospel health.
Jesus, as you’ve totally freed us from the penalty of our sin, please heal us more fully of its pillaging power. For our mind, emotions, and will have been pervasively infected with sin.
Heal our thinking from the ever-present disease of unbelief— a congenital condition that affects everything we do. Transform us by the renewing of our minds, Jesus. Grant us a greater measure of gospel sanity. We want to think your thoughts. We want your mind to be in us (Phil. 2:1–11).
Heal our emotions from the malignancy of self-interest. We want godly anger, not destructive pouting. We want gospel joy, not circumstantial happiness. We want sadness born from a heart of mercy, not melancholy born from simply not getting our way.
Heal our choosing of selfishness, stubbornness, and demandingness. Jesus, may your will be our bread and your glory be our portion.
Jesus, we are so thankful for the coming day of our completed healing (Rev. 21:1–22:5). Until that day, continue to make us healthier by your grace and Spirit. We pray in your holy and healing name.
Amen.