My Prayer for Bob Tanner

by his physician and friend, Dr. John Todd, the author of this Website.

(This prayer was composed 4-24-Th-97. Dr. Todd emailed this prayer to Bob Tanner. Bob loved the prayer, and recited it frequently.... and he shared it with many friends.... asking them to pray this prayer, for him.)

The web-link to this "tablet" is: http://www.terrific-tabs.com/print_prayforbob.htm
To send a "live" link to a friend, copy and paste this web-link in an email message.


4/97; 5/98; 6/98; 10/02; 7/03; 8/04; 12/16/06

SEE also "Facing Death" (link)


(Bob Tanner died on July 21, 2000; as a result of carcinoma of the colon. He lived for more than seven productive years after the initial diagnosis.)


(This prayer should be read out loud.)


Almighty God -- I am praying again, for my friend, Bob Tanner.

I pray, Lord, that you will bless Bob Tanner; and love him, and guide him, and comfort him -- as he goes through whatever travail you may have planned for him. Lord, strengthen Bob, and allow him to see your presence -- your hand, your purpose, your intention.... in all of this distress that you have allowed to befall him.

Lord, forgive Bob for whatever errors he may have committed, and for whatever "flaws" you may have recorded in your "book", concerning his actions and his performance, during his journey in this world -- the journey that you assigned to him.

Almighty God, my hope is that you will cure Bob of this disease that has infested him. Lord, I accept your sovereignty in all matters of human existence, both in this World, and in the life-to-come -- in the Kingdom of Heaven. I know that with one word, "Heal", you have the power to remove Bob's illness. My prayer is that you will speak that word, now, Lord; and that you will cause this dreadful illness to disappear.... and to be gone from Bob's body, forever.

Lord, help Bob to understand that you "discipline" your favorite sons. My prayer is that you will include Bob among those whom you love the most.... those that you protect, and favor.... and I pray that you will allow Bob to sense -- to know within his very "soul" -- that you are in him.... and with him.

We remember, Lord, and we understand, that you created each of your people for your plan, and your purpose -- and for your pleasure. You caused Bob Tanner to come into this world.... to be born into this life.... for a reason.... for your own plan. Don't leave him now, please, Lord. Allow Bob to become free of his illness, so that he can complete the work that you have assigned to him, and so that he may finish those activities for which you created him.

Almighty God, I do not pray that you will swap my earthly and humanly requests for the divine plan and purpose that you have for Bob. I do pray, however, that you will empower Bob to tolerate his illness.... and to see you, peacefully, in whatever you have in your design for him.

And Lord, in Bob's continuing spiritual development, let there be a growing trust in you.... to complement his faith in you.

And, most of all, I pray that you will accept Bob, to be among your "chosen" ones, for eternity -- in the company of God's people.... both now, and in the life-to-come.

Father, help all of us -- your people -- to remember that "it is not for this life only that the Christ has given us hope".

Lord -- in your Book of Truth, your Bible, you say the following words, to comfort your people.... and to instruct us about yourself. Help us always to recall your counsel:


1 Corinthians 15: 19 (NEB) If it is for this life only that the Christ has given us hope, we of all men are most to be pitied.

2 Corinthians 4: 16 (NRSV) So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed, day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory, beyond all measure, 18 because we look not at what can be seen, but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

Collosians 3: 1 (NRSV) So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

2 Corinthians 5: 6 (NRSV) So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord; 7 for we walk by faith.... not by sight. 8 Yes, we do have confidence; and we would rather be away from the body, and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.

Philippians 3: 20 (NRSV) Our citizenship is in heaven; and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of His glory, by the power that also enables Him to make all things subject to Himself.

Hebrews 11: 13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises -- but from a distance, they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.... 16 But as it is, they desire a better country.... that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God.... indeed, He has prepared a city for them.

Matthew 10: 29 Jesus speaking: "Never a sparrow falls.... apart from the will of my Father."


Almighty God, I pray this prayer in your holy and all-powerful name. Amen.


A Prayer, by John Todd, 4-24-97
12/16/06