Prayer Before Surgery

A short prayer to pray before an operation, and one for whoever is waiting outside it. Written to be prayed when you are frightened and cannot concentrate.

The prayer

Lord Jesus, in a little while I will be put to sleep and other hands will do the work. I am frightened, and I am telling You so rather than pretending otherwise. Be in that room. Guide the surgeon's hands and the anaesthetist's judgement; give the whole team clear heads and steady nerves. Hold my body while I cannot. Hold the people waiting for me, who can do nothing but wait. Whatever I wake to, I am Yours now and I will be Yours then. Into Your hands I commit my spirit. Amen.

History & tradition

Christians have prayed before surgery for as long as there has been surgery, usually borrowing the words of Compline — 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit' — which are themselves from Psalm 31 and were the last words of Christ from the cross. Many hospitals still keep a chaplain for exactly this hour, and in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions the anointing of the sick is commonly given before a serious operation.

When to pray it

Pray it the night before, and again in the last quiet minute before they come for you. If you cannot manage the whole thing, the last line alone is a complete prayer and has been for two thousand years.

Three short alternatives

The whole prayer, in one line

'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' Nothing more is required, and nothing more has ever been required.

For the person waiting

'Lord, I can do nothing for them now except be here. Take the hours that are about to be very long. Keep my hands from shaking and my mind from running. Amen.'

For the surgical team

'Bless the hands that will work today — give them skill, and rest afterwards. Amen.' They are rarely prayed for.

Pair it with daily practice

See verses about fear and verses about healing. You can ask others to pray for the day on the prayer wall, and a pastor or priest is available by call if you would rather talk it through with someone.

"Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth." — Psalm 31:5 (KJV)

Other prayers

• Morning Prayer
• Evening Prayer
• The Serenity Prayer
• The Jesus Prayer
• Prayer for Anxiety
• Prayer for Healing
• Prayer for Strength
• Prayer for Protection
• Night Prayer
• Prayer Before Meals
• The Prayer of St Francis
• The Apostles' Creed
• The Hail Mary
• Prayer for Guidance