7 Prayers for Surgery – A Surgery Prayer for Every Occasion

Did you know that prayers for surgery can be powerful? Faith is a powerful thing. Keeping a prayer for surgery in your heart and mind can help to ease the anxiety of the pending procedure. When I was being prepped for my c-section, the OBGYN said a surgery prayer that calmed me and put my heart at ease. No matter your religious beliefs, prayer or a simple Bible verse is powerful.

Prayer Before Surgery

Prayers before surgery and faith are powerful. An orthopedic surgeon described how a study showed that women who attend religious services have a lower mortality rate. Those believing in a higher power also experience reduced mortality rates as well as fewer cardiac events. While there isn’t a lot of research on prayer before surgery, Donn M. Schroder, M.D. discusses this topic in the American Journey of Surgery, staying that “Prayer is a powerful thing.”

Prayers for Before & After Surgery. The most popular prayers for surgery come from Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox Christian, and Jewish faiths. #thenerdynurse #nurse #nurses #prayers #prayer #faith

Prayer After Surgery

While the surgery seems like the most scary part, recovery can be very difficult for some. A prayer after surgery can help to calm nerves and give faith. The mind is a powerful thing, combining it with the strength of God can make recovery from a difficult surgery or procedure.

Surgery Prayers

Surgery is a terrifying thing. Prayer can be a way for you to express your anxieties and accept the encouragement from others that are praying too. No matter what your personal belief system is, there is something so incredibly beautiful about the following 7 prayers for surgery.

Pin this post so you can keep it for when you need it. I found the best prayers from Catholic and Protestant resources. However, I am sure there are prayers for surgery available for every religion.

Before Surgery Prayers

First, let’s look at some prayers that are appropriate before the surgery.

Protestant Prayer

Heavenly Father, grant me joyful acceptance of the surgery which awaits me and let this be the relief and cure which I seek. Make skilled the work of the surgeon and that of his team for it is unto their knowledge and skill that I give myself for healing. I pray to You, O Lord, that this procedure will be without complication, and that my recovery will be speedy and complete. Amen.

(source)

Prayers for Before & After Surgery. The most popular prayers for surgery come from Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox Christian, and Jewish faiths. #thenerdynurse #nurse #nurses #prayers #prayer #faith

Catholic Prayer:

Loving Father, I entrust myself to your care this day; guide with wisdom and skill the minds and hands of the medical people who minister in your Name, and grant that every cause of illness be removed, I may be restored to soundness of health and learn to live in more perfect harmony with you and with those around me. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.

(source)

Prayers for Before & After Surgery. The most popular prayers for surgery come from Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox Christian, and Jewish faiths. #thenerdynurse #nurse #nurses #prayers #prayer #faith

Greek Orthodox Prayer:

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who did patiently endure the scourging and wounding of Your most holy Body, that You might save the souls and bodies of Your people, look graciously, we beseech You, upon the suffering body of this Your servant (Name) and give him (her) strength to endure patiently whatsoever You shall see fit to lay upon him (her). Bless the means employed for the working out of his (her) cure, granting that he (she) may so endure his (her) sufferings in the flesh that the wounding of his (her) body may be to avail for the correcting and salvation of his (her) soul, for Yours it is to show mercy and to save, O Christ our God; and to You do we send up Glory, as to Your Eternal Father and Your All‑Holy, Good and Life‑creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

(source)

Prayers for Before & After Surgery. The most popular prayers for surgery come from Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox Christian, and Jewish faiths. #thenerdynurse #nurse #nurses #prayers #prayer #faith

After Surgery

After the surgery is finished, there is healing that needs to happen. These prayers are a beautiful way to send requests for healing to God.

Protestant Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you that this operation is safely past, and now I rest in Your abiding presence, relaxing every tension, releasing every care and anxiety, receiving more and more of Your healing life into every part of my being. In moments of pain, I turn to You for strength, in times of loneliness, I feel Your loving nearness. Grant that Your life and love and joy may flow through me for the healing of others in Your name. Amen.

(source)

Prayers for Before & After Surgery. The most popular prayers for surgery come from Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox Christian, and Jewish faiths. #thenerdynurse #nurse #nurses #prayers #prayer #faith

Greek Orthodox Prayer:

O Lord God Jesus Christ, the Life and strength of all that put their hope in You, Whose mercies are numberless, and the treasury of goodness that is infinite, we give thanks to You for the blessings which You have bestowed upon Your servant (Name); and we humbly beseech You to continue Your goodness toward us; and as You have been well pleased to restore Your servant to his (her) bodily health, so do You imbue his (her) soul with all the heavenly graces, perseverance in good works, and prepare us by Your blessings in this life for the enjoyment of eternal happiness in the Life to come; for to You are due all glory, honor, and worship, as also to Your Eternal Father and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

(source)

Prayers for Before & After Surgery. The most popular prayers for surgery come from Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox Christian, and Jewish faiths. #thenerdynurse #nurse #nurses #prayers #prayer #faith

Catholic Prayer

Blessed Savior, I thank you that this operation is safely past, and now I rest in your abiding presence, relaxing every tension, releasing every care and anxiety, receiving more and more of your healing life into every part of my being. In moments of pain I turn to you for strength, in times of loneliness, I feel your loving nearness. Grant that your life and love and joy may flow through me for the healing of others in your name. Amen.

(source)

Prayers for Before & After Surgery. The most popular prayers for surgery come from Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox Christian, and Jewish faiths. #thenerdynurse #nurse #nurses #prayers #prayer #faith

Jewish Prayer

A Jewish prayer called the Mi Sheberakh is often recited before and after surgery. The original is in Hebrew. A literal English translation follows:

May the One who blessed our ancestors

Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

Matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah

bless and heal the one who is ill:

May the Holy Blessed One

overflow with compassion upon him/her,

to restore him/her,

to heal him/her,

to strengthen him/her,

to enliven him/her.

The One will send him/her, speedily,

a complete healing —

healing of the soul and healing of the body

along with all the ill,

among the people of Israel and all humankind,

soon,

speedily,

without delay,

and let us all say:  Amen!

(source)

Prayers for Before & After Surgery. The most popular prayers for surgery come from Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox Christian, and Jewish faiths. #thenerdynurse #nurse #nurses #prayers #prayer #faith

There you have it! 7 prayers for surgery that are perfect for bringing peace. I hope you never have to use them, but if you do, I hope at least one of these prayers helps you find peace and strength.

Praying with Patients

Unfortunately, prayer has been stigmatized in recent years. You have to be cautious and follow your employer’s guidelines. In the United States, your first amendment rights guarantee your freedom of religion and speech. That doesn’t mean your employer can’t prohibit either of those. It means that you can’t be prosecuted by the government, but your employment is separate from that.

Nurses have even been fired for praying with patients. British nurse Sarah Kuteh was fired because she initiated prayer with patients. She had been a nurse in the hospital for 10 years and frequently talked to patients about her faith, the bible, and even sang hymns at work. She wasn’t fired for praying with the patients, but rather for initiating the prayer.

According to reports, she had been reprimanded several times for initiating prayer and making patients feel uncomfortable in the process. She likely would have been happier serving a faith-based organization.

This happened in England, which has different laws and standards.

How Can You Prevent Being Fired for Praying with Patients

The best way to avoid any consequences at work for praying with your patients is to take the queues from your patient. If they express they are a person of faith, it’s documented in the chart, or similar, it’s probably ok to offer to pray with the patient.

You should also check your employer’s policicies for their stance on the topic of prayer and religious conversations with patients.

If you’re a person of strong faith, you might consider working for a faith-based hospital, as prayer is encouraged. I’ve had the pleasure of attending many meetings with faith-based healthcare systems and am always moved by their opening of meetings with prayer. It’s beautiful and unique. The first time it happened, I was nearly moved to tears.

Prayers is powerful and needed. If you’re worried your job security, but still feel the strong desire to pray for your patients, you can always do so silent. God will hear it, either way.

Also check out:

Do you have a favorite prayer for surgery?

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1 thought on “7 Prayers for Surgery – A Surgery Prayer for Every Occasion”

  1. Thank you for this wonderful post. I used to be an OR nurse before I became an NP (and First Assist). A few patients have asked me to pray with them before starting surgery. I consider it an important part of being there for them. Both as a provider and prayer warrior.

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