Last Updated on October 19, 2023 by Emma
Like Jesus, we all carry our own crosses. Some people have heart complications as one of their crosses to bear. Heart complications are especially concerning since it’s such an important and central part of the body. If you or someone you love is having heart surgery it is vital to pray for them!
It’s hard to wrap our minds around the crosses God gives us in our lives. If you have heart complications it is normal to feel angry or that it’s not fair. I can’t pretend to know the stress of a looming heart surgery, but I do know that it wasn’t fair that Jesus had to be beaten, humiliated, and die an undeserving death on a cross.
They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him” (Matthew 27: 30-31, NIV).
In moments of weakness during your heart surgery journey remember to strive to be like Jesus and to carry your cross with poise and grace. I have given you 8 prayers for heart surgery, but feel free to customize them to your specific situation. Please leave prayer requests in the comments as well!
Short Prayer for Heart Surgery
Lord, (name) is having heart issues. It has gotten so severe that (he/she/I) needs to have surgery. Any type of surgery is scary, but heart surgery is particularly terrifying. Wrap me in your loving embrace. May the Holy Spirit be present during the surgery and protect (name). In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer Before Surgery
Lord, I am about to undergo heart surgery. This is a very terrifying experience for me. There are so many things that could go wrong. I’m trying not to spiral out of control. Help me to remember that You are in control.
The doctors are experienced so I know they are the right people for this job. I know they have done this before and will do the best they can to make this surgery a success. Please bless their hands as they work on me. Bless the anesthesiologist who will put me under. Help him to stay focused and give me the correct dosage of medicine.
Please help this to be just a routine surgery and to go off without a hitch. The heart is such a sensitive and important organ which is why I am so nervous. Help me to stay calm and trust in you.
Ultimately, Lord, I just pray that you protect me during this surgery and that I can come out on the other side glorifying you for your goodness and faithfulness. May I cling to these words from 2 Corinthians, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV). In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer During Surgery
Lord, (name) is undergoing heart surgery right now. The doctor’s have told us the surgery will take (amount of time). Help me not to panic if the surgery goes longer than that. I am so nervous that there will be complications.
This is a really big surgery and there are plenty of ways this could go awry. Help me to surrender my fears and worries to you. I lay them at the foot of the cross. I feel like I can’t handle the stress of this so I know I must cast my burdens on to you because I cannot handle this alone.
God please give the doctors wisdom as they perform (name)’s surgery. I know they have done this before and will do the best they can to make this surgery a success. Please bless their hands so they can work quickly and accurately.
Please help this to be just a routine surgery and to go off without a hitch. The heart is such a sensitive and important organ which is why I am so nervous. Help me to stay calm and trust in you. I feel kind of selfish for being so nervous when it’s not even me having surgery!
Help (name) to be calm and courageous. May name cling to the words from the Scriptures, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24, NIV).
If something goes wrong during the surgery, please give the doctors wisdom to know how to handle it. Help them to stay calm and respond quickly and accurately to the problem at hand.
Lord, I trust in you. Amen.
Prayer After Surgery
Dear God, thank you so much for getting (name) through (his/her) surgery. I am so grateful for your protection during the procedure. You have blessed us abundantly. Please help the recovery from surgery to go smoothly. Please make the pain as minimal as possible!
(Name) will surely start getting antsy quickly. (Name) doesn’t like to be idle, so please just help (her/him) to remember to use this time of rest to rest in You. Help (name) to embrace this time of recovery as opportunity to grow in humility and gratitude.
Recovering from surgery is a big cross to bear. Help (name) to be like Jesus and to carry this cross with poise and grace. The Scriptures tell us that when Jesus was weak he had help carrying his cross. “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross” (Matthew 27:32, NIV). Help name to remember that even Jesus needed help. Help (him/her) to relinquish (his/her) need for control and autonomy by accepting help from others during this difficult time.
I pray there are no post op complications and that all follow up testing goes according to plan. I know this will be a long road of recovery, but please let it to be uneventful! I know you will be there every step of the way. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Heart Bypass Surgery
God, (name) is having heart bypass surgery. This surgery will create a new path for blood to flow around a blocked artery in the heart. It will improve blood flow to the heart muscle. This is a life changing and necessary surgery for name.
However, it is open heart surgery! There are many serious possible complications that it’s overwhelming. I know this is an invitation to trust in You. I know everything will happen according to your will.
Please bless the hands of the doctors as they work on (name). Please help this to be just a routine surgery and to go off without a hitch! Thank you God for your steadfast love and protection. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Open Heart Surgery
God, (name) is having open heart surgery. (Name) will be connected to a heart-lung machine during their surgery. (His/her) heart will be stopped during the surgery and the machine will do the work of the heart and lungs while (his/her) heart is stopped.
All of this sounds terrifying! There are many serious possible complications that it’s overwhelming. I know this is an invitation to trust in You. I know everything will happen according to your will.
Please bless the hands of the doctors as they work on (name). Please help this to be just a routine surgery and to go off without a hitch! Thank you God for your steadfast love and protection. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for an Atherectomy
God, there is a lot of plaque build up in (name)’s arteries so (he/she) has to have heart surgery. This is a less invasive surgery than traditional open heart bypass surgery so I am hopeful that it will be quick and smooth.
I’m grateful for this less invasive surgery. Please protect (name) during the procedure. Please bless the hands of the doctors as they work on (name). Thank you God for your steadfast love and protection. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for an Angioplasty
Lord, (name) is having an angioplasty surgery. This procedure is used to open blocked coronary arteries caused by coronary artery disease. If the procedure is successful then blood flow will be restored to the heart without having open-heart surgery!
I pray this surgery is successful and no additional procedures will be needed. Wrap (name) in your loving embrace and protect them from harm. Bless the doctors who will be performing the surgery as well! Thank you God for your steadfast love and protection. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Concluding Thoughts
Although heart surgery is a daunting procedure we can find comfort in the heart of Jesus. He is the ultimate healer, protector, and counselor. If you are worried about you or a loved one having heart surgery you should turn your eyes to the cross. Lay down your burdens at His feet and trust that He died so that we may have new life.
Heart surgery is complicated so our prayers may not always be answered the way we hope they will. Always know that, as difficult as it is to accept, His plan is greater than ours.