Lord, you are not moved or shaken by our calamities – you are steady and resolved. You are not surprised at the pandemic, or the injustice, or the riots and looting. God, you maintain perfect clarity and are fully committed to carrying out your purposes, even though I may not see how.
I trust your wisdom and goodness in the face of despair. You, alone, are sovereign and wise, fulfilling your purposes NOT DESPITE, but THROUGH the chaos.
Your way is in the whirlwind and the storm
Nahum 1:3
I pray your church would fully trust you in these times. Now is the time for your people to rise; not to cower down in fear. I pray we would magnify the Name of the Lord not only in word, but in action and truth. Now, more than ever in my lifetime, is our opportunity so great to proclaim your Gospel to a lost, confused, and sinful people. Expose the sins of our hearts to us that we may turn from them. Whether sins of apathy, selfishness, pride, arrogance, complacency, lust, worldly pleasures, tribalism, idolatry, hatred, or self-exaltation. Give us – no, give ME the humility to look at that list and not think those sins are “out there” in others, but could be staring at me in the mirror.
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130
Illuminate our understanding to your words. I pray our repentance would be swift and your mercy would fall on us like rain. I pray we would have the humility and courage to remove the planks from our eyes so we could see clearly to remove the specks in our brothers’ eyes.
Regarding the injustice and sin we are surrounded by in our culture… give us your heart to feel how you feel. Give us your eyes to see with clarity your perspective. May we be your hands to heal what has been broken. May we be your voice to proclaim the good news of your Kingdom. I pray our witness as your church would be true and unified.
Let our light shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
May all men know we are your disciples by the love we have for one another
John 13:35
I pray we would not allow the Gospel to be hidden behind or diluted by any other agenda, regardless of how good they may be. Let Christ be exalted above the devastation of coronavirus, above economic collapse, above the quarantine, above injustice, above racism, above violence, and destruction. I pray for your peace – your shalom – in all these things, recognizing you care about our current situation.
I pray for your kingdom to come, your will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Matthew 6:10
Regarding unity in the body…
I pray the church would make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3
May our effectiveness in displaying an accurate picture of Christ reflect the oneness we have in the Gospel that redeemed us. I pray church leaders would wield their influence to point your bride (the church) and our nation to the cross. I pray revival would spread like fire. Turn our nation to you, oh Lord. Forgive us our sins.
Maranatha – our Lord come!
