Our Prayer For You 05 June 2020

Sister Jean Jackson offers “Our Prayer for You 05 June 2020” for Front-Line, Essential Workers and Business Owners.

My Brothers, Sisters and Friends,

We thought that the world had enough to deal with when the corona virus hit the shores of countries worldwide. Persons may say it was more than enough. In all of this, we have been trying to find a form of normalcy and renewal as we try to get out of a total lock-down phase that occurred due to this corona virus. Yet the serious issue of racism has recently occupied the airwaves because of the death of George Floyd, a black United States of America (USA) citizen who was allegedly killed by a white police officer in a gruesome manner. Many persons worldwide have commented on this issue and demonstrated or voiced disgust at the killing. Many persons are feeling pain and hurt. Demonstrations and riots have emerged throughout a number of States.

A couple of questions come to mind as I try to process the happenings during and after this man’s death.

• What wrongful act was committed by George Floyd?
• Is there a judicial process for dealing with wrongful acts allegedly committed by a person as in George Floyd’s case?
• Does the judicial process give the right to a police officer who allegedly used his knee to suffocate another human being who he is of the view, committed a wrongful act?
• Was the wrongful act committed commiserative with the punishment handed down?
• Was it a case of arrest, trial, jury, conviction and execution all in one happening at the same time?  If so, was the officer acting within the laws?

The responses may seem obvious and the questions may seem irrelevant to ask but I recall when Cain killed Abel out of anger because his offering was not accepted by God, God asked him a question:

“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

Genesis 4:9-10 (NIV)

Let us back-up a bit. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God they hid in the Garden. What did God ask the man?

“But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:9 (NIV)

Would answers to the questions God asked be obvious to Him? Some persons may say that a reason for the questions is to bring a deep awareness to the apparent guilty party’s thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, actions etc., concerning the wrongful act committed.

• Do we just move on like nothing happened because it is outside of our scope of life?
• Do we process it?
• Do we speak out against it?
• Do we see the value of a life created in the image of God?
• Do we consider the sanctity of that life that God says is wonderfully and beautifully made?
• Do we consider the possibility of a lost soul?
• What would Jesus do?

As individuals, churches, countries, are we aware of our own true beliefs, values, thought processes, attitudes that may automatically or deliberately play out into our experiences; and the tone we set for others to emulate? Do we silently or deliberately play a role in inequality and other forms of injustice in our own local, among groups and people with whom we relate? Are we aware? Can we search ourselves or do we daily submit to the Holy Spirit to do so? Are we transformed or are we making an effort under God to be transformed?

Many of us are physically stepping back into the working world with fear, anxiety and nervousness. Some are trying to get a job or a way of earning an income. The truth is there is an eternal hope; and that is the reason Jesus Christ died for our sins. Based on what has happened in the last couple of months, there is a critical need for forgiveness, submission to the will of God, healing and renewal throughout the world. The fact is that only God can help us so we should spend valuable and good quality time with Him, individually and corporately, and pray for each other, our families, leaders and nations.

Today’s prayer will be led by Sister Jean Jackson, our Head Usher.

Let us pray;

Father we thank You for another day to praise and glorify You. Thank You for being the Good Shepherd. Lord, help us as a people to follow Your lead because You are the God of love, healing, deliverance and protection.

Father I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ asking that You forgive us of all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Lord I pray that You grant wisdom, truth and discernment to our Nations’ Leaders, those in the Church, Government and Private Sector, especially at this time of uncertainty, and where there must be a fixity of purpose. So strengthen them dear Father with that knowledge of how to guide your people.

Lord, we pray for the Honourable Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness, Minister of Health Christopher Tufton, Minister of Finance Nigel Clarke, health workers and support staff, Minister of National Security Horace Chang, Minister with the responsibility for Education, Karl Samuda, Leader of the Opposition Peter Philips, and their families; Jamaica Defence Force and Jamaica Constabulary Force personnel and Security Guards

Dear Lord as we confront this COVID-19, I call on You to be with our Front-line workers as they battle this virus. Help them to be courageous knowing that they can trust in the power of Your presence in their lives, and in so doing make their task more tolerable. Help them Lord not to worry but to rely on Your protection as they serve.

Lord, we present to you those connected with our church:

• Medical Doctors: Asana Anderson Wilks and Rohan Wilks, Kahlete Falloon, Tina Kong, Vernon Jones, Leighton Logan;
• Dentists: doing emergency cases: Jhenell Black, Dana Jones, Eleanor Reynolds;
• Pharmacists: Sandra Bucknor-Jones, Viveen Watson;
• other doctors and nurses from GMC or in connection with members and adherents of GMC who are working on the front-line (for example Dr. Richard Reynolds) and their families

Heavenly Father I pray that You watch over our Leaders and Front-line Workers as they look to You for comfort, strength, coverage and guidance at this time.

Dear Lord as our Nation plans to reopen our economy, I ask that You remain with us and continue to strengthen our people. We remember every Jamaican who has to go back out to the physical office or other forms of work setting; every teacher, and student who has to go out to school to prepare for external exams. So Lord bring to our remembrance your word that says:

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline;”

2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Lord we ask that You will help business owners in Jamaica and the world. Lord remember especially: Ewan and Maxine Oliver; Lanna and Desmond Bennett; Warrick Bogle, Carol and Leroy Blake, Marcia Leair, Robert and Beveline Smith, Paulette Dixon, Kemorine and Karl Henry, Ava Comrie, Catherine Barkley and husband, Cornel Richards and family, Everton Lewis, Pauline and Mark Garvey, Maxine and Benedict Ranger, Melva Knight, Nicole Fender, Sharon Baldie, Karl Jones and others.

Lord help us to always remember that You are God, and God alone and You are our only deliverer. So help us to continue to glorify and worship You always. May You Lord continue to cover this Nation with Your mercies as we call on You now and always;

In Jesus’ name we pray with thanksgiving.

Amen.

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