Praying Through a Pandemic
Written by Pastor Bob Vradenburgh
Never perhaps since Sept. 11, 2001, has there been such a keen sense of need for prayer as at the present. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis keeps escalating daily. People are scared. The lives of many are put on hold. School is out. Businesses are being shuttered and employees furloughed. Grocery store shelves are bare of items in high demand. Our hospitals are postponing elective surgeries and begging for masks and ventilators.
This is a time accurately described by Jesus’ words in Luke 21:26 “Men’s hearts failing them for fear.” Many who were carnally secure just a few weeks ago are now quaking in their boots. There is no security outside of Christ. But God has not given us the spirit of fear. The perfect love that we have experienced in Christ casts out the fear that has torment.
Please keep bombarding heaven incessantly with your prayers! Avail yourself of the telephone and social media to check on one another and pray for one another. Do not isolate yourself! Sin loves isolation. “Social distancing” is not isolation.
“Be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you,” because there will be those reaching out to you if you exude the calm and confidence that only Christ can give and that children of God can have.
- Pray for our government and health care officials.
- Pray for victims of the corona virus and their families.
- Pray for our missionaries who are dealing with heartrending situations in impoverished and ill-prepared cultures.
- This is a pandemic — a worldwide epidemic. Pray for the progress of the gospel.
You and I were chosen to pray! We are saved to pray! Jesus said in John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” Let us fulfill our heavenly calling. The opportunities for impacting others spiritually will be boundless.
“Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.”