Say the Word and I Shall Be Healed!

Lord Jesus Christ,
I am not worthy that you should enter my sinful heart,
yet you know my poverty and need.
I desire your presence
to nourish, comfort and strengthen my poor soul.
Say the word and I shall be healed!
Amen.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#89)

This prayer paraphrases Matthew 8:8 and is similar to a prayer in the Latin Mass, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” See this article in America: National Catholic Review about the return of the prayer  in the most recent revision of the Mass.

See also “I Come to You at Your Holy Table” attributed to Martin Luther.