Prayer And Gods Will

[StrawberryFields]

Thank you Lindy and John Doe.

Here is the latest update on this,

This last week has been very busy Nick has had many tests and specialists appointments. The doctors have been wonderful getting him into a schedule that was already completely booked. We have learned that especially with patients who have brain injuries the hyperbaric chamber can trigger seizures. Nick has had blood drawn, an EEG, and an MRI and it has been determined that he will need medicine to prevent seizures while he is in the chamber. He has begun antibiotic therapy where he will take 11 antibiotics a day. He will begin the hyperbaric chamber treatments tomorrow and they will be 5 days a week for two hours a day, for 60 to 90 days. We need these treatments to take care of the infection that is located in the metal (titianium) plate. The doctors are hopeful that the antibiotics along with the chamber (100% pure oxygen) will be the right combination to rid the infection from him.

I am also looking for the silver lining, to have marked improvement in cognitive abilities. The doctor doing the study of hyperbaric medicine is Nick's doctor for the hyperbaric chamber. The study for brain injuries, is done a little differently the intensity is at 125 for 1 hour for 90 days. Nicks infection requires the intensity of 200 for 2 hours for 60-90 days. Nick will still become part of the study because of his brain injury, he will just be at the higher doses.

[shanstress70]

That's very interesting stuff, SF. I hope this is exactly what Nick needs, AND I hope he gets the bonus of improved cognitive abilities. I'll be thinking of you guys tomorrow! Hang in there... you are such a strong woman and I admire you so much. :)

[begood2]

Prayer For Nick

Dear Heavenly Father I want to thank you for all the blessings that you have bestowed upon me. I sometimes wonder if I'm receiving more than my fair share, especially when I see so many others with such burdens of pain and suffering that they are having to endure.

One such family that I have come to know over the past two years is a young man named Nick with a brain injury that has become infected and his mother who is a strong inspiration through her valiant struggle to do all that is in her power to save her son.

During the next several months Nick will be under going new medical procedures to rid his brain and skull of the infection....I pray that the doctors will be at their best during the procedure.

Dear Heavenly Father I would also like to ask you to please look after this family and especially to help Nick to improve from it.

Please Dear God, I humbly ask you to answer this prayer.

I ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

[StrawberryFields]

Oh! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! I really do! :)

Yesterday the procedure went very well. They let us watch for about the first 15 mins as they pressurized the clear glass chamber Nick was in. He could only wear the cotton scrubs which matched perfectly his sliding bed that he has on as he entered the tube. He was also given a small water bottle and they were able to talk to him through a telephone. Nick had too clear his ears for about ten minutes like he was in a plane or diving. After that point he was very comfortable in there watching a movie. I was instructed to go to the waiting room on the 6th floor where we had basically lived for many weeks. The people were different but the stories and the sense of worry and fear of the unknown were way to familiar to me. I am not sure I want to be waiting for him in there. I may try the main lobby and have them call me when he is ready. While I was in there I thought a woman looked familiar to me and I heard her say that she worked in the ER. After the procedure, Nick asked about going to see the nurse who was on life flight with him. The woman was still there and I told her about Nick wanting to see the nurse who helped him on life flight. She remembered Nick and what had happened to him. She was very happy to see him doing so well and she gave a a phone number to call and arrange a visit at the hanger of life flight.

I appreciate your interest in this, and the ability I have to share these feelings with you. I know that it is the prayers of others which sustain me through these times. Thank you.

Much Love, SF

[shanstress70]

Was Nick OK after this treatment? I assume there are no side effects or unpleasantness afterwards? Hopefully not. Sounds like it went great, and I hope it continues to!

[StrawberryFields]

Nick is a trooper and takes these things in stride. :)

We have been instructed to keep him engaged in activities that will get his mind off of the treatment. When someone does an intensive treatment like this everyday, it can be consuming. Nick knows what will happen next, if this treatment doesn't work... It doesn't do any good to think about this now. Worrying about something we have no control of robs his of his energy needed to get well.

They will do an evaluation of some sort after 40 treatments.

[anim82r]

Who does it it help when we pray for someone?

Is it best to pray or to let Gods Will be done?

When a blessing is given for the sick is it the faith that heals someone or is it Gods Will?

What should be asked for in a prayer for someone you care about and who is afflicted?

S.F.

Hi! I'm fairly new in this site and this is my first attempt to join in some forums or discussions. And this is my first time to reply. I really could not gather my thoughts at the moment so I could not say something about Prayer and God's will, so I just thought this one from the Bible Dictionary would suffice. Also, although you can't see me I do feel nervous doing this, hoping everything I do and say will be correct. I'm sorry I have to put them all here, I just couldn't find nothing to deleat from the Bible Dictionary's definition/ explanation about prayer. Perhaps, you might also want to study it out in your mind some history about prayer. Please pay particular attention to the 7th paragraph. I especially love that Fact.

BIBLE DICTIONARY

Prayer

Before the first generation of mankind had passed away, men began to call upon the name of the Lord (Gen. 4: 26; Moses 5: 4). Prayers, whether with (Gen. 12: 8; Gen. 13: 4) or without (Gen. 20: 7; Gen. 32: 9-11) sacrifice, were constantly offered by the patriarchs to God. The efficacy of the intercession of good men was recognized (Gen. 18: 23; Gen. 20: 7; Ex. 32: 11).

Prayer is nowhere specifically commanded as a duty in the law, and prayers were not prescribed at the sacrifices except on two occasions: a confession of sin on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16: 21), and a thanksgiving when offering the firstfruits and tithes (Deut. 26: 3, 13). It is, however, certain from the nature of things, and from the custom in later times, that prayer accompanied sacrifice.

Even in the times of the Judges, the children of Israel did not forget to cry unto the Lord, and a model of prayer is furnished by Hannah (1 Sam. 2: 1). Samuel was recognized by his nation to be characteristically a man of prayer (1 Sam. 7: 5, 8; 1 Sam. 12: 19, 23; Ps. 99: 6). David’s Psalms, and the Psalms generally, breathe the highest spirit of prayer. The nation that possessed them must have been rich in teachers and examples of prayer. Remarkable prayers were prayed by Solomon (1 Kgs. 8); Hezekiah (2 Kgs. 19: 14, etc.; Isa. 38: 9, etc.); Ezra (Ezra 9: 5); the Levites (Neh. 9: 5, etc.); and Daniel (Dan. 9: 3, etc.). “Making many prayers” was a part of the corrupt religion of Israel under the later kings (Isa. 1: 15), and a marked feature of the religion of the Pharisees (Matt. 6: 5; Matt. 23: 14).

It was the custom to pray three times a day. So David (Ps. 55: 17), Daniel (Dan. 6: 10), and the later Jews. Prayer was said before meat (1 Sam. 9: 13; Matt. 15: 36; Acts 27: 35).

The attitude of prayer ordinarily was standing (1 Sam. 1: 26; Neh. 9: 2, 4; Matt. 6: 5; Luke 18: 11, 13); also kneeling (1 Kgs. 8: 54; Dan. 6: 10; Ezra 9: 5); or prostrate (Josh. 7: 6; Neh. 8: 6). The hands were spread forth to heaven (1 Kgs. 8: 22; Ezra 9: 5; Isa. 1: 15; Ps. 141: 2). Smiting on the breast and rending of the garments signified special sorrow (Luke 18: 13; Ezra 9: 5). The Lord’s attitude in prayer is recorded only once. In the Garden of Gethsemane he knelt (Luke 22: 41), fell on his face (Matt. 26: 39), fell on the ground (Mark 14: 35). It is noteworthy that Stephen (Acts 7: 60), Peter (Acts 9: 40), Paul (Acts 20: 36; Acts 21: 5), and the Christians generally (Acts 21: 5) knelt to pray.

Prayers were said at the Sanctuary (1 Sam. 1: 9-12; Ps. 42: 2, 4; 1 Kgs. 8), or looking toward the Sanctuary (1 Kgs. 8: 44, 48; Dan. 6: 10; Ps. 5: 7); on the housetop or in an upper chamber (Acts 10: 9; Dan. 6: 10). The Pharisees prayed publicly in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets (Matt. 6: 5). The Lord prayed upon the tops of mountains (Matt. 14: 23; Luke 9: 28), or in solitary places (Mark 1: 35).

As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7: 7-11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.

There are many passages in the N.T. that teach the duty of prayer (e.g., Matt. 7: 7; Matt. 26: 41; Luke 18: 1; Luke 21: 36; Eph. 6: 18; Philip. 4: 6; Col. 4: 2; 1 Thes. 5: 17, 25; 1 Tim. 2: 1, 8). Christians are taught to pray in Christ’s name (John 14: 13-14; John 15: 7, 16; John 16: 23-24). We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ - when his words abide in us (John 15: 7). We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent his mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart.

Book of Mormon references on prayer include 1 Ne. 18: 3; Alma 34: 17-28; Ether 2: 14.

[begood2]

Nick,

I hope that you are doing great. I know that it will take some time before you will notice any progress, but I'm hoping and praying for the best. :)

PS: After reading about the conjoined twin sisters surgery in Utah I can see that the state really has some great medical facilities. :)

[StrawberryFields]

By the end of next week Nick will have completed 60 hyperbaric treatments which are each two hours long. He has been taking 18 pills a day 11 which are antibiotics. During this treatment Nick has needed to have the cyst that has formed over his scar drained twice because of the pain and pressure it has caused. This past week it was drained and fluid set to the lab for a study, He was also sent for blood tests and the results were given today. There is no evidence of infection in his body!!! Apparently, the antibiotics and Hyperbaric Therapy did what was needed to rid his body and the plate of infection! Thank you for the well wishes and prayers, I have appreciated the support as always. We feel very blessed...

[begood2]

SF,

I'm so happy for Nick and the rest of the family. This is indeed great news to shout from the roof tops!!!

I'm so happy that you are a member of this site because you have shown us all, so many important aspects of what is truly important in life....like family, patience, endurance through difficult times and a loving and caring attitude for all. May God Bless Your Family!

[boyando]

Strawberry.

I can not add anything more than what begood2 has said.

Thank You -allmosthumble