There are times when our commonality is more important than our differences. This is one of those times. The crisis we face is real, with the potential to alter our world as we know it. We can live in a place of fear about what we see, or we can choose to see something different/better by faith. I prefer to live/see by faith because I know it has a better outcome than what happens when I live in fear.
President Trump has declared March 15 as a National Day of Prayer in response to the COVID 19 crisis. You may agree or disagree with Mr. Trump as a person and a leader. Still, this I know… remarkable, exceptional, stunning and miraculous things happen when leaders are willing to make room for God to work on behalf of the nation they lead.
Politics, personalities and policies aside, our world is in a difficult place. It’s also in a place where something tremendous can happen if the Church takes its place as priest and intercessor. We, and only we, can stand in the gap on behalf of our land… and when we do, we can expect God to respond remarkably.
Panicking is easy. Hoarding exposes the fearful selfishness of our hearts and spreading fear is as easy as ‘sharing’ something off your social media feed.
History shows us that praying changes everything!
Here are three things that you can pray for:
1) Pray for our leaders who are working hard to respond to this crisis. Ask God to give them wisdom, strength and courage to address this situation.
2) Pray for healthcare workers around the world who are working hard to care for those affected by this pandemic.
3) Pray Ps 91 over yourself, your family, your neighbours and co-workers.
4) Pray for a miraculous intervention that would stem the expansion and impact of this virus. Ask God to stop it in the same way plagues were stopped in the Bible. Nothing is impossible!!
James, the brother of Jesus wrote these words speaking to people just like you and me:
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:16
This moment calls for us to step into Elijah’s sandals and pray with the same kind of boldness, faith and authority that he did, because the stakes are just as high! Elijah’s prayer addressed an immediate need, but also set a national transformation in motion. God is not limited or intimidated by COVID 19. Nor is He powerless to do anything about it. Let’s invite Him into this in bigger and bolder ways than we ever have before.
You and I were made for this!
Tim Schindel 