Days after Hurricane Katrina hit, in a statement to the press the governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco encouraged a day of prayer: "As we face the devastation wrought by Katrina, as we search for those in need, as we comfort those in pain and as we begin the long task of rebuilding, we turn to God for strength, hope and comfort."
Many studies are being done to prove the effectiveness of prayer in aiding the process of physical and emotional healing. Dr. Carl A. Hammerschlag, M.D., a doctor who has followed much of the research on prayer studies stated in his blog, "Connecting to something other than self, something that inspires you, something that fills you with awe and love; they all embolden the healing spirit."
In a Beliefnet article about the potential healing power of prayer, research reveals that prayer can help people recover from depression and illness by focusing the mind on the things in life that cause us to be grateful. Studies by Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard University have shown that simply relaxing one's state of mind is good for both health and immune-system function.
And for many people of faith, prayer is a natural expression of trust and dependence upon God. Yet, no matter what you believe about prayer, it may be just the prescription to bring relief to someone in serious need.
Here are a few simple prayers for aiding in the healing process:
