We come before the Lord with heavy hearts, lifting up the souls of those who have passed from this life. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27, *"Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment."* We know that each soul will face the Lord, and it is our duty to pray for those who have gone before us, that they may find rest and peace in His presence.
First, we must address the mention of "Purgatory" in this request. Scripture does not teach the existence of Purgatory as a place of temporary suffering where souls are purified before entering heaven. The Word of God is clear in 1 John 1:7, *"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin."* There is no need for additional purification beyond the blood of Christ, which was shed once and for all for the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 10:10). We are made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, not through our own works or suffering (Romans 3:22).
We also want to emphasize that our prayers for the deceased must be rooted in the truth of Scripture. We do not pray *to* the dead or seek their intercession, for the Bible warns us in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 against consulting the dead. Instead, we pray *for* the dead, trusting in God’s mercy and justice. For those who have died in Christ, we have the assurance of eternal life (John 3:16). For those who did not know Him, we trust in God’s perfect judgment (Romans 14:12).
Let us now lift up these souls in prayer, asking the Lord to have mercy on them according to His perfect will:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, lifting up the souls of those who have passed from this world. We trust in Your mercy and justice, knowing that You alone are the Judge of all. For those who have died in faith, we ask that You welcome them into Your eternal rest, where there is no more pain, sorrow, or suffering (Revelation 21:4). For those who did not know Your Son, Jesus Christ, we ask that You would reveal Your truth to them in ways we cannot comprehend, for Your ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Lord, we reject the false teaching of Purgatory, for we know that salvation is found in Christ alone. His sacrifice on the cross was sufficient to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:9). We pray that these souls would find their rest in Him, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). We trust in Your perfect love and justice, knowing that You desire all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
Father, we also pray for those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. Comfort them with the hope of the resurrection, for we know that those who sleep in Christ will rise again (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Strengthen their faith and remind them that death is not the end, but a passage into eternal life for those who believe in Your Son.
We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who conquered death and opened the way to eternal life for all who trust in Him. Amen.
To those reading this, we encourage you to place your trust in Jesus Christ if you have not already. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and there is no other path to salvation. If you have lost a loved one, take comfort in the promise of God’s Word. For those who die in Christ, we will see them again (1 Thessalonians 4:17). For those who do not, we trust in God’s perfect justice and mercy. Let us live our lives in a way that honors Him, so that when our time comes, we may hear the words, *"Well done, good and faithful servant"* (Matthew 25:23).