As we approach the National Day of Prayer, I am reminded of the command found in 1 Peter 5:7: cast your worries, your anxieties, your cares on God “because He cares for you.” That is always a powerful truth, but perhaps it feels a little louder right now.
As of May 1, 2020, it is believed that approximately 65,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States. March saw the largest single-month increase in unemployment in many years. There are still many unknowns. Many people are fearful. Many feel hopeless. It all seems too much sometimes.
But when it looks overwhelming, don’t despair. Join the psalmist in crying out, “when my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge.” Take your fears, your doubts, your anxieties, and your worries to the Lord. Seek Him – for yourself, for your household, for your family, your city, your state, and your nation.
Hebrews 4:16 invites us to draw near the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This surely counts. 1 John 5:14 says, “this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
Begin, as Jesus taught us, with remembering who God is – Our Father in Heaven, your Name be honored as holy.” (Matthew 6:9) When we start with who God is, nothing else is impossible. He is the same God who accomplished good from the evil intended by Joseph’s brothers. We might ask how He can bring anything good out of COVID-19 and how He’s going to sort it all out and make it right. Someone else might have been tempted to ask how anyone could bring good out of a young man being sold into slavery by jealous brothers. But God did!
Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.” He cares. He is with us. He is mighty! Ephesians 3:20 tells us that He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask our think. He is the One of whom was said, “even the winds and sea obey Him.” He has promised to care for His children. He has promised to never leave or forsake us – so we may boldly say, “the Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid.”
Joshua 21:45 records, “Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”
This is the God we serve. This is the One whose face and presence we seek continuously. He can be trusted. He is faithful. Remembering who He is, we will focus on seeking Him on behalf of our nation on Thursday, May 7.
Here are a few areas in which you might focus your prayers:
Government
Pray for our leaders. Pray that God will give them wisdom and integrity as they lead, especially in this time of crisis. Pray that they will have personal encounters with the Lord and that they will govern according to His will.
On the Federal Level, we can lift up our President, Vice President, Cabinet Members, Congressional Leaders, and Supreme Court Justices.
On the State Level, lift up our Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Controller, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioners, Senators, Assembly Members, and Justices
On the Local Level, consider interceding for your mayor, city council, police chief, fire chief, judges, and county officials.
Essential Workers
There are many men and women who are working hard to keep our nation, state, and cities running in this time of crisis. This is not only a risk to the health and well-being of many workers, but also a physical and emotional strain as they work long hours – many with fewer days off than before, have new responsibilities to contend with, and worry about bringing illness home to their loved ones. Pray for their strength, safety, sanity, and salvation! Some essential workers you may consider including in your prayers include:
Health workers: not only doctors and nurses, midwives, paramedics, and EMTs, but also their supporting office staff, the cleaning and maintenance crew, the retired workers who have returned to help where they can, the interns who are learning more than they ever expected to this year. Pray also for our mental healthcare workers who are helping people process ongoing traumas and working with people who are grieving in unique ways. Pray for those in less-affected areas who have chosen to be deployed to critical areas and are away from their families for an extended period of time to provide this care.
Education and childcare workers: teachers, daycare providers for the children of essential workers, and administrators are doing their best to continue serving our children in an entirely new context.
Food and Grocery workers: pray for those who are growing, transporting, and preparing food, stocking shelves, and dealing with the public on a daily basis.
Utility workers: we are all grateful for clean water, air conditioning, internet, and garbage services – especially at this time, when many of us are working from home and separated from family.
Businesses
Whether large or small, many businesses are having to deal with a host of new regulations and adjust to new realities. Pray that they will act with integrity, be fiscally responsible, be able to remain afloat, and be able to continue providing for their employees. Pray that Christian bosses and co-workers will have opportunities to reflect Christ to those around them.
Churches
Pray for wisdom for our pastor as he guides us through uncharted waters. Pray that we would all be faithful to be in the Word, to love people, and to be the church while we’re out of the building. Pray that we will individually and corporately honor the Lord and bring joy to Him in the way we interact with our friends and neighbors in this time of distancing, that the scattered church would be growing and effective. Pray that as the Word of God goes out in livestream services – in our church and in churches around the world – that the Gospel would be heard and that the Lord would use it to change many hearts and lives.
Family
There are both blessings and challenges that come from being isolated together. Pray that we will love one another, be kind and patient, and be strengthened in Christ together rather than becoming frustrated with each other and tearing each other down. Pray that couples will seek Christ together and they will be united in Him. Pray for those who are married to unsaved spouses, that they will be a testimony to the unbelieving spouse. Pray for the relationships between parents and children to grow strong and healthy, and that those who are Christians would be an example to those without Christ. Pray for strength and wisdom for parents who are homeschooling and helping their children process all of this.
Children
This is a unique time for all of us, but it may feel especially overwhelming for children who don’t understand why this is happening, what’s going on, or the reason they’re suddenly separated from friends and loved ones. Online learning is new to them too. Pray that people in their lives would be patient and understanding with them and help them begin to establish a deep faith and trust in Jesus Christ during this time.
Other needs
Pray for the sick and dying, and for their loved ones who cannot be with them.
Pray for those who are grieving alone.
Pray for the homeless. There are far fewer place for them to shelter safely.
Pray for those who are abused, especially now as they may be confined with their abuser who may feel more stressed and take it out on them.
Pray for an end to this crisis, for a vaccine, better testing, wisdom in knowing when to maintain or modify restrictions, and that there would be wisdom in following the guidelines set forth for us.
“Finally, brothers [and sisters], pray… that the Word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.”
Ultimately what is needed in our cities, states, nations, and our world is that Jesus Christ would be known and magnified, that each person would have opportunity to enter into a relationship with Him. As COVID-19 makes many consider their own mortality, may we be faithful to share Christ and may the Spirit lead many to know Him!