The Prayer of Encouragement for 14 August

Little Sister Alana Dinald offers the Prayer of Encouragement for 14 August 2020 for our country, businesses, frontline and other workers.

My Brothers, Sisters and Friends I am hoping that you are well.

I noticed that the Covid-19 cases have increased. It appears that many persons have become less vigilant in keeping up with the necessary precautions. Some of the business places that I visited still do temperature checks but others just spray your hand with something, which I am told is alcohol.

I have had a few interesting experiences with customer protocols. Recently, I went into a hardware store out-of-town and was asked if I washed my hands before entering. I was taken aback, so I asked for clarity. They directed me to a make-shift pipe and a soap dispenser. Of course, I went and washed my hands. This has been my most unusual experience to date. I also went into a popular furniture store (in Kingston) and they directed me to go and use the spray bottle with alcohol at the cashier’s outer counter. In other places that I have been this is done at the place of entry. I must say though that most places require that customers wear a mask.

Now that there is an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, what are the implications for us as a country? Have we become tired of taking precautions? Do we think that it will not affect the local wherein we regularly function? Are the policies and procedures implemented by the government evenly and reasonable spread across sectors within our society? Are they adequate?

Persons have indicated to me that at the port of entry to Jamaica, they are required to observe certain protocols. However, on entry to some other countries (especially the developed ones) they are not even questioned about their health status concerning Covid-19. So what are the implications for the world?

You know, there seemed to be a wave of confusion in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. We may think that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is a central body that should have the power and influence to galvanize peoples of the world into a particular direction as it relates to health protocols. How effective is this Organisation? Do they have signed conventions, agreements, protocols etc. that address major health crises? Is it too cumbersome for nations to contend with those approaches? Would such approaches impede the sovereignty of nations? Are these issues for the WHO to address? 

Brethren, there are many questions and we could have a long debate on them. I have a few questions that I ask of myself. Who is likely to be affected, and infected by Covid-19? How can I become exposed to someone with the disease? If I do not take the necessary precautions, what are the possibilities for exposure? Is the risk of not taking the necessary precautions worth my health, or even my life?

One of the issues rolling over in my thoughts has to do with humility. Humility affects our desire and will to be obedient. So as my thoughts flow, I am taken to a conversation between Jesus and His disciples.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

Matthew 18:1-5 (NIV)

We could take various discussions from this passage of scripture but the one that kept sticking me is humility and obedience. A child is expected to be respectable, easily changeable, take instructions and abide by them. This is what God expects of us, and this is what pleases Him. This does not mean that we lose the concept of self, but that self operates within the context of His expectations.

Many times as children of God, we struggle with walking the path that God expects of us in the different experiences that we encounter. We are informed through His word. Yet, we want to be our own person without God’s guidance. We may even go to the extent of asking God for guidance but automatically doing our own thing because of a certain framework in us that dictates how to function. The Covid-19 pandemic is staring us in the face but some of us refuse to follow instructions and be cautious. Like a child, we are being called to be humble and obey so that we can help to save the lives of others, and ourselves. This brings good results. As children of God, and as followers of Jesus, we are held at a higher level of expectation (fair or not) by others. Just think about it…

Today’s prayer is led by Alana Dinald. Alana is eight years of age. She is a member of our Youth in Praise Ministry.

Let us pray:

Dear God, we adore You, and praise You. Lord, we love You with our heart, mind and soul. Lord, we give You all the glory. We worship You oh Lord. You are worthy to be praised. Lord, we lift Your name on high.

God, today we confess all our sins and ask You to forgive and cleanse us for all the bad things we have done. Create in us clean hearts oh Lord and renew the right spirits within us.

Lord, Almighty God, we thank You for loving us first and that is why we love You back. Also Lord, we thank You for taking care of families through this unwanted time especially children and youths. 

We thank You Lord for providing food, clothing and shelter.

Lord, we also present the leaders of the country to You and we ask You to protect them and their families and keep them safe. We ask You to help them make right decisions that are pleasing to You. Lord, we call them by name:

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 Education, Karl Samuda, Leader of the Opposition Peter Philips, and their families; Jamaica Defence Force and Jamaica Constabulary Force personnel and Security Guards, all other leaders of government and their support staff.

Minister of National Security, Horace Chang and his team, as they fight the good fight to overcome the challenges we face each day. Lord, we put to You and ask for Your blessings on the Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck. We also remember the judges in our congregation: Paula Blake Powell and Grace Henry McKenzie

Lord, we present the Jamaican economy to You. As a result of Covid-19, some business stores have closed, some people are losing their jobs and are unable to pay their bills and take care of their families. Lord, we ask You to turn around our economy and make the business places start to make money again so that they can pay their employees.

Lord, we also present to You the business leaders in our congregation:

Ewan and Maxine Oliver; Lanna and Desmond Bennett; Warrick Bogle; Carol and Leroy Blake; Marcia Leair; Robert and Bevelin Smith; Paulette Dixon; Kemorine and Karl Henry; Ava Comrie; Catherine Barkley and husband; Cornel Richards and family; Everton Lewis; Pauline and Mark Garvey; Brother Astley Hall; Maxine and Benedict Ranger; Melva Knight; Nicole Fender; Sharon Baldie; Karl Jones; and others.

So Lord, we ask that You help us as a country to act wisely as it relates to the Covid-19 pandemic. Help those who are working so hard on the frontline, as well as their families.

Frontline workers connected with GMC: Medical Doctors: Asana Anderson Wilks and Rohan Wilks, Kahlete Falloon, Tina Kong, Vernon Jones, Leighton Logan; Dentists: doing emergency cases: Jhenell Black, Dania 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 frontline (for example Dr. Richard Reynolds); and their families.

Lord, we thank You for hearing and answering our prayers.
In Jesus’ name we ask with thanksgiving.

Amen.

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