Weekly General Prayer For 3 May 2020
Brother Hervin Willis offers the Weekly General Prayer for 3 May 2020.
My Brothers, Sisters and Friends,
We hope that you are well. However, if you or anyone you know is in need of prayer or any other forms of support, please let us know. Based on your feedback, we appreciate your concern for each other. We are encouraging those who want to provide any form of support for those persons who are in need at this time, to do so. One of the avenues to give support is through the church office.
As I contemplate what has been happening to us as a nation and worldwide, I am reminded of the powerful people of God whose experiences are shared in His word. Many of them were ordinary people who God set out to accomplish extraordinary and powerful ventures. A number of them were not seen by their fellow human beings as fitting into a particular crowd, or having capabilities to execute certain tasks. Yet God confounded those thoughts, attitudes and behaviours with His wisdom and sovereignty through the empowering of His Holy Spirit. They were His disciples. You know, Jesus gave an instruction to His disciples while He was on earth. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me;” (Matthew 16:25, NIV). He called His disciples to put to death wants, desires, plans, thoughts, attitudes and behaviours that did not represent His objectives.
Jeremy Camp did a song called “Christ in me.” The song speaks to a surrender of self. Some of the words go like this:
“So I will fix my eyes, cause you’re my source of life. I need the world to see that it’s Christ in me, that it’s Christ in me. Done with what holds me down. The things I once was chasing after. Throw off these heavy chains, that I have let become my master. So now I’m running free into an ocean of mercy unending, so come and empty me. So that it’s you I breathe….”
The Apostle Paul’s proclamations concerning the work of the Holy Spirit are very profound. A few of those include: “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11). “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7, NIV).
Paul’s experiences also took him to an understanding of what Christ’s death meant for a renewed life. He said: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, NIV).
As we take this journey may we ponder and ask ourselves, and God, certain questions. What does Christ living in me looks like right now? What should it look like? Am I trying to truly function as a disciple of Christ? We could work it out with God during these times, as we keep our focus on Him. Regardless of what we are currently facing at this time, regardless of what we may think of ourselves, my dear Brothers, Sisters and Friends, let us always remember that God loves us. He is our Father, Saviour and Lord. He wants us to be close to Him, and do His work in and through us
This week’s general prayer is led by our own Brother Hervin Willis. Brother Hervin is a member of the Choir.
Let us pray:
Most righteous, eternal and heavenly Father and our God, in the name of Jesus Christ, we come to worship and honour you, to give you thanks and praise for your goodness towards us. Lord, we acknowledge you as the creator; the God of the universe, our Jehovah Jireh; our ultimate Provider; our Rock; our Fortress; and our Shelter in the time of storm.
Father, we confess that we have sinned and found wanting many times as we disobey your commands. Lord God, we humbly beseech you to forgive us. Wash us Lord and cleanse us from all unrighteousness we pray. Create in us clean hearts and renew the right spirit within us.
We thank you Father for your grace and mercy that has brought us thus far. Thank you for your love that resulted in you sending your only Son, Jesus Christ, to come die in our stead – that we may have salvation. We thank you Lord for sparing our lives. We thank you Lord for your protection in this season of the COVID-19 pandemic. All over the world, millions of persons are being infected and this dreadful virus is killing hundreds of thousands but we are here alive to give thanks and praise.
Lord this period of our lives is totally new and very troubling but Lord we know that you are very much in control. We are trusting you Lord to take us safely through this COVID-19 storm. Lord our God we know there is nothing too difficult for you because you are the all-powerful life giving Word. Lord, we do pray that the research that is being done to find an effective vaccine against person contracting the COVID- 19 virus will be a success in short order and may your healing power touch the afflicted persons. Father we are deep in sympathy for many who have lost their loved ones and we do ask you to be the source of comfort and strength for them.
Lord, this pandemic has created critical changes in most persons’ lives. There is loss of loved ones, friends and jobs, business closures, a dim economic outlook and feeling of great uncertainty but you oh God are still in control. So we are trusting you Lord to take us through.
Lord we commit the leaders of this island Jamaica in your hands right now. We ask that you grant them wisdom and discernment to do what is in the best interest of our country. Our leaders include Prime Minister Andrew Holness; Minister of Health Christopher Tufton; Minister of Finance Nigel Clarke; health workers and support staff; Minister of National Security Horace Chang; and Peter Philips leader of the opposition and their families.
Lord we put to you the health professionals and other workers who are at the forefront of administering treatment to the sick and dying. We do ask you Lord to be the hedge of protection around them. Protect them physically, mentally and emotionally as they labour long and hard to preserve lives. Lord, many are staring at a harsh uncertain future because of this pandemic but we know that you are the God who owns all the resources on this earth as outlined in Psalm 24. So Lord we pray that you provide and supply all the needs according to your will. Help us Lord to reach out to others who are in need and to give a helping hand.
Comfort those who mourn at this time Lord and help us all to adjust mentally and emotionally to the changes we face in our lives. Lord these are difficult times for the young, the old, the not so young, the sick and shut-ins. So we seek your grace and mercy to take us through. Lord God help us to follow the prescribed precautionary measures we need to take to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
Father God let your Word this morning (as recorded on our website) be clearly understood, provide challenge, inspire hope and bring changes in people’s lives.
Dear Lord we beseech you to pour out your blessings on us all.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
If you are in need of prayer or comfort, please contact us with your request. We would be very happy to share with you.
