Coronavirus Prayer

18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:18,19) 

Thoughts: The Prime Minister of Canada was implying "thoughts and prayers" do nothing, or at the very least are not powerful enough to make a change in a speech he made in response to a shooting.  The problem is even if you take every gun away, people still find ways to kill others- with clubs (Cain and Abel), or even with the jawbone of a donkey (Samson).  Anger and violence are assuaged by the peace that is brought in by thoughts (mindfulness) and prayer (asking for peace, mercy and God's power).  Even Christians have been caught degrading prayer which is one of our most powerful weapons.

      But in this coronavirus time, I believe God is calling us to stop and pray.  We cannot use the excuse that we have to go out and do this or that.  We are called to stop- turn back to God and talk to Him.  We have been so very busy going a hundred miles an hour at break neck speed with our agendas, and now we need to stop.  We need to stop because we need God's mercy, we need God's help, we need God's healing.  Our passage says there is power in prayer to bind and to loose.  But we also need to stop because we need to pray and talk to God.  Prayer is not meant to be something done solely in isolation.  While we may be apart- we can still agree in prayer about a request.  We can agree to pray for our leaders, healthcare workers, nursing home workers, farmers and food deliverers, and teachers.  We can agree to pray that God will pour His Spirit out on our land, and that we will have a renewal of our faith, and that we will turn back to Him- giving up blasphemies, and evil actions.  We can agree to pray for mercy.
     This past Sunday (5/3/20) was our state's State Day of Prayer.  Thursday is Naitonal Day of Prayer.  If we ever needed to pray it is now.  

Prayer: Lord, teach us to pray.  Help us to see the need and to focus in on prayer.   

Here is a short Prayer to pray during this Coronavirus Time:
Father, we need your mercy and grace poured out on us.  Help us to turn to you and heal our land, our health, our economy, our broken relationships, our churches.  Give strength and grace to the front-line workers.  Direct our leaders by your Spirit.  Encourage those discouraged. Help us to use this time in confinement to get closer to you.  Give us your hope, and may your power restore us in a way that glorifies you.