Lord, he whom You love is sick.*

These words were the first conscious thought I had this morning. I think the Holy Spirit brought them to mind. I sensed He was inviting me to use these words in prayer for a friend of mine who is sick.

But I hesitated. Was praying that prayer for my friend a legitimate use of Scripture? Did Lazarus’ situation apply? I wondered momentarily if I could be just as sure of the Lord’s love for my friend.

Then in a rush, one Scripture after another flooded my mind to affirm that my friend is indeed someone He loves:

• …he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him. (Jn 14:21)
• God demonstrated His own love for us… (Rom 5:8)
• In love He predestined us to adoption as sons… (Eph 1:4-5)
• God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us… (Eph 2:4)
• For God so loved… (Jn 3:16)
• What can separate us from the love of Christ? (Rom 8:35)

The assurance that the Lord loves my friend with a before-the-foundation-of-the-world kind of love, an all-the-way-to-the-cross kind of love, a nothing-can-separate-us kind of love… gave me great confidence to pray, “Lord, he whom You love is sick.”

* John 11:3, 5