A prayer in response to COVID-19
Lord, we commit ourselves to you as people affected in various ways by this particular coronavirus, COVID-19. We have seen and heard and felt so much over these past few weeks – on the news, on the internet, in our supermarkets. We have experienced a whole range of emotions – shock, worry, concern, uncertainty, nerves, stress, fear.
And so we come to you, because you, Lord, know us. You know when we sit and when we rise. You perceive our thoughts from afar. You discern our going out and our lying down. You are familiar with all our ways1. We affirm again that you are the One who made us, and we are yours. We are your people, the sheep of your pasture2.
As your people you have commanded us to not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to present our requests to you3. So we ask that you would contain this outbreak and that you would speed on the efforts to provide a cure. We pray for your protection over lives, particularly for those most vulnerable. Minimise the impact on the economy we pray. We ask for wisdom for our government leaders, and for those in the corporate and education sectors, for us as a church, and as families and individuals.
Grant us faith we pray. We believe, help our unbelief4. Help us in this time to not become so insular, so turned in on ourselves, that we neglect to do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers5. May we be people who exhibit the fruit of your Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control6. As dearly loved children help us to be imitators of you, Lord, and to live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us7. May we do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility help us to consider others better than ourselves, looking not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. That our attitude might be the same as that of Christ Jesus8. May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we were called to peace. May we be thankful. May the word of Christ dwell in us richly. Whatever we do, whether in word or deed, may we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to you our Father through him9.
Use this time to remind us of our weakness and frailty – how susceptible each one of us is. And so shift our confidence and trust to the only solid ground there is – the Lord Jesus. Use this time to help us to be your people in this time and in this place. Ready to give a reason for the hope that we have10. Ready to show your care and your love for all.
We praise you that you are in control, sovereign Lord, and that through all of this King Jesus remains on his throne. We affirm again that you are good because your Word and not our emotions nor our circumstances is our authority. We praise you that your plans for your world are not ruined by this pandemic. We praise you that you have not isolated yourself from us but in your Son you entered the muck and mess of this life. We praise you that in his death and resurrection the Lord Jesus has overcome the far greater and more deadly problem of our sin. And that through him you grant us the hope of heaven, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain11. May we long for heaven all the more. All this we bring to you Lord, thankful that you are our Rock and our Redeemer12, Amen.
1 Psalm 139:1-3.
2 Psalm 100:3.
3 Philippians 4:6.
4 Mark 9:24.
5 Galatians 6:10.
6 Galatians 5:22-23.
7 Ephesians 5:1-2.
8 Philippians 2:3-5.
9 Colossians 3:15-17.
10 1 Peter 3:15.
11 Revelation 22:4.
12 Psalm 19:14.
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash