22 Mar WE TURN TO GOD IN TIMES OF FEAR
| A new coronavirus disease is spreading rapidly around the world, officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11. More than 190,000 people have been infected and the death toll is over 7,500 people. The numbers are increasing daily, and the disease seems to be cropping up in many more places.
As Christians, we turn to God in times of fear and uncertainty as we do in times of joy and celebration. Please join us as we pray for God’s heart of love, mercy, and truth to dwell in us and show us how to face the challenges posed by the new coronavirus. Pray for people who are infected with COVID-19 or facing quarantine. Jesus, during Your ministry on Earth You showed Your power and caring by healing people of all ages and stations of life from physical, mental, and spiritual ailments. Be present now to people who need Your loving touch because of COVID-19. May they feel Your power of healing through the care of doctors and nurses. Take away the fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation from people receiving treatment or under quarantine. Give them a sense of purpose in pursuing health and protecting others from exposure to the disease. Protect their families and friends and bring peace to all who love them. Pray for people at higher risk of developing the disease. Dear Lord, we lift to You our concern for people who are more likely than others to become severely ill from COVID-19 — the elderly and people with chronic health conditions. Protect them from harm and be their comfort in this time of uncertainty. Pray for medical professionals, caregivers, researchers, and leaders responsible for decisions about fighting the new coronavirus. Father, we seek Your wisdom daily. Be with people making decisions that affect the lives and futures of our families, communities, countries, and the wider world. Inspire and invigorate people developing better tests to diagnose the virus, vaccines to prevent it, and protocols and communication to eliminate the disease’s spread. May truth and empathy be the touchstones of people setting policies for our protection. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers …—2 Corinthians 1:10-11 (NIV) |