[Printable Version: National Day of Prayer March 15, 2020]
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump has declared March 15 as a National Day of Prayer, saying…We are a country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these…No matter where you may be, I encourage you to turn towards prayer in an act of faith.
I thank God for the President’s timely declaration, and I respond with the following prayer …
Father God,
In a world of famine, floods, and fire; disease, death, and the disruption of our everyday activities, on this day when the President has called for a National Day of Prayer, we choose to look up…from our knees. We see You seated on the throne of glory, in control of all things.[1] All things. We know that You are a God of mercy, of grace, of faithfulness, of loving-kindness.[2] So we reject fear of the coronavirus and its impact on our lives, and instead, place our faith in You. You have said that Your ears are open to our cry,[3] that Your eyes are upon us,[4] and that Your arms are long enough to reach us[5] and strong enough to hold us.[6] Hold us now. Hold us close. Quiet our racing hearts. Breathe Your Spirit of peace into the fear and turmoil within us.
Even as I pray for Your peace, I wonder…could this wicked, insidious, evil virus be the trigger that sparks a spiritual awakening in our beloved nation? Are You trying to get our attention, demanding that we wake up in our relationship with You? I know we desperately need to wake up.
We have legalized defiance of Your institution of marriage; we celebrate relationships that contradict Your instructions; we exterminate life that You created and that bears Your image…for our own convenience; we have become so secularized we don’t even acknowledge You exist, much less reverence or obey You.
You have my attention. Therefore, like the prophet Daniel of old, I turn to You in humility and shame as I confess on behalf of America some of the national sins that come to mind…[7]
Holy Spirit of the living God, convince us of the need to turn away from our sin and get right with You.[8]
Lord God, have mercy on us! As we repent of our sin and return to You, return to us! There is no one like You to help the powerless against this mighty disease. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on You and in Your name we come against this vast, invisible enemy.[9]
Once again, we hold You to the promise you gave to King Solomon. You said, When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land, or send a plague among My people, You said if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, You said then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. You said, Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers…[10]
We hold You to Your word as we plead with You. Hear our prayer. Forgive our sin. Heal our land. We are standing in the gap for our nation.
We pray in the name of the One who is Our Deliverer. Our Beautiful and only Savior. Lord of the nations. Son of God and Son of Man. The living, reigning, soon to return Lord of lords and King of kings, Jesus Christ.
In His name and for His glory we pray,
Amen
[1] Isaiah 6:1
[2] Ephesians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 9:14; Exodus 34:6.
[3] Psalm 4:3
[4] Psalm 33:18
[5] Isaiah 59:1
[6] Psalm 139:7-10
[7] Daniel 9:1-19
[8] John 16:8
[9] 2 Chronicles 14:11
[10] 2 Chronicles 7:13-15
[Printable Version: National Day of Prayer March 15, 2020]
March 13, 2020
There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven…When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:11, 28
COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus, has created national fear in a way I have not witnessed in my lifetime. As of this writing, ball games are being canceled; theaters are shutting down; schools are closing; travel is restricted, and the stock market is on a crazy, wild rollercoaster ride. It’s almost as though our nation is being attacked by an invisible enemy seeking to destroy us.
While my age and recent chemotherapy put me at risk, I am more concerned about the fear the coronavirus has provoked than I am of the virus itself. We seem to be caught up in a national panic.
February 21, 2020
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…Psalm 23:4
Today is a significant day. Although I’m away from home, looking forward to a special event tonight in Jackson, Mississippi when I’ll share ministry with Keith and Kristyn Getty, I’m remembering…
January 31, 2020
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16
…A little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6
The world was shocked and grieved to learn of the tragic and untimely death of Kobe Bryant on January 26. For sports fans, his death was on the level of Princess Diana’s death. Something that was unbelievable. Impossible. Like a nightmare we kept waiting to wake up from.
January 30, 2020 [1]
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord… Isaiah 6:1
For my birthday one year, my mother sent me a package wrapped in plain brown paper. When I opened it, there was a gaudy, multicolored straw basket inside, stuffed with tissue paper. I actually thought my mother had totally lost her good senses! I tossed out the tissue paper, wondered what in the world I was going to do with the basket, then called to thank her for her “gift.” Mother laughed when I thanked her for the basket then asked what I thought about what was inside it. I told her that nothing was inside except tissue paper and I had thrown that out. She responded urgently, “Oh, no, Anne! Inside that tissue paper is your real birthday gift!”
