On Saturday, March 14, 2020, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed a proclamation for a National Day of Prayer, in response to the worldwide pandemic of the novel coronavirus. The President’s proclamation made references to I Peter 5:7, Luke 1:37, and Psalm 91:2.  The Day of Prayer took place the following day. I didn’t hear of it until that Sunday evening. I’m afraid many didn’t hear of it until it was too late.

Some religious groups called for a Global Day of Prayer to be held on the following Sunday, March 22. I didn’t hear of that one until that Sunday afternoon. Despite the non-stop coronavirus coverage, it appears that the media was not motivated to make sure everyone knew of the days set aside for prayer. Maybe they don’t have much faith the power of prayer. Or maybe they fear repercussions from atheists. I don’t know.

SPANISH FLU

I decided to look up information on the “Spanish Flu” epidemic I had heard mentioned. I discovered that it started in January, 1918, and ended in December, 1920. That meant my mom and dad were both born in the midst of it. According to the cdc.gov web site, it afflicted about 500 million people, or about a third of the world’s population. It is estimated that about 50 million died, or about 10% of those afflicted. It was an H1N1 virus of the avian variety. The beginning of the U.S. outbreak was among military personnel. The virus.stanford.edu web site states that the Spanish Flu took more lives that the “Black Death Bubonic Plague” that lasted from 1347 to 1351. It was on November 11, 1918, (about a month before my dad’s birth) that the world had finally seen the end of the four-year struggle known as World War I. Then came the Spanish Flu. Those must have been very difficult days for my grandparents. But God brought my mom and dad and their families through those dark days.

COVID

Americans are once again facing difficult days. The current coronavirus outbreak has hospitals overflowing around the world. Many Christians are turning to Psalm 91 for encouragement during this time. It is a wonderful passage speaking of God being our refuge and our rescuer. It speaks of His sending angels to watch over us and the fact that we should not fear. The dangers mentioned are:

• Arrows (representing any weapons of our enemies)
• Lions and cobras (representing any dangerous creatures)
• Having your foot hit a stone (representing accidents)
• Pestilence and plagues (meaning dangerous epidemics like the one we are now experiencing)

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, as recorded in Luke 4:13, Satan tempted Him to jump from the highest point of the temple. Satan referred to Psalm 91:11-12, which declares that angels will keep your feet from hitting a stone. Jesus’ response was to quote from Deuteronomy 6:16, which says we should not test God, as the Israelites did at Massah. At Massah they demanded water from god. This is a good reason we should follow the instructions for social distancing, hand washing, avoiding touching our faces, and whatever other instructions we are given. We should not behave carelessly and then think we can demand that God protect us. I’m sure that when David was being pursued by Saul’s army he didn’t go and stand in the middle of an open field and wave his arms and expect God to protect him from enemy arrows. Proverbs 22:3 says, “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”

OUR GOVERNING AUTHORITIES

Another good reason to follow the instructions we’ve been given for avoiding coronavirus is that we are commanded in Scripture to obey our government authorities. Romans 13:1-5 addresses this subject. Of course, we know there are exceptions when government goes against God, such as in Daniel 6 when Daniel defied the king’s order to pray to him instead of God. But as a general rule, we are to obey our authorities. Romans 13:4 tells us that an authority figure “is God’s servant to do you good.” Christians should be good examples of obedience to the authorities.

The Bible says, in James 5:16, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” This certainly seems like an appropriate time to be praying. If we’re doing our best to be obedient to God, God will hear our prayers. I’ve decided to put a prayer into writing. I hope you will join me in praying.

PRAY WITH ME

Heavenly Father,

I come to You asking for Your mercy in the outbreak of disease that is affecting our whole world. We can only appeal to your mercy, since sin is so rampant among us these days. Millions of unborn babies have been sacrificed on the altar of convenience. Many people have ignored Your rules for relationships between men and women, relationships between men and men, and relationships between women and women. For many, pleasures have become more important than taking time serve You or to fellowship with others who believe in You. The truth of Your simple plan of salvation is being traded in for beliefs that appeal to our intellect and pride or is being allowed to be tainted by other belief systems. Many have been brainwashed into believing that Your amazingly beautiful and complex creation happened by a process of “Evolution.” Corruption has become common among our leaders. I recall Abraham’s request for Your mercy for the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He bargained with You and finally asked You to spare those cities if You could find even ten righteous people among the cities’ populations.

Deadly epidemics have spotted history, but most of us don’t claim to know for certain why you sent them or allowed them. We can only be sure that You are wise and just. Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts higher than our thoughts, according to Your words through Isaiah found in Isaiah 55:9. Your Word tells us there will be much deadly disease, sometimes referred to as “pestilence,” in the last days before Jesus’ return to the earth, and we know His return is getting closer every day.      

I ask You to give Your strength and wisdom to our leaders and help them to work in harmony in this current epidemic. I ask you to provide for those whose livelihoods have suddenly been pulled out from under them. I ask that those who have lost loved ones will discover the peace and comfort that only comes from You. I ask for your protection over our health care workers. Most of all, I ask Your for healing for the sick and for Your mercy to stop this virus quickly. You created us, so I know that healing sick bodies and stopping a virus is a simple task for You.

Thank you for the promises for believers that we find in Your Word. Thank you for Deuteronomy 7:9—“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” Thank you for Psalm 18:2—“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  Thank you for Psalm 46:1&2—“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”

Forgive me, Lord, for complaining about little everyday frustrations and forgetting to be grateful for the everyday simple pleasures I have taken for granted. Forgive me for taking for granted being able to go to the store with no fear of shortages or serious viruses, having big family gatherings, joining friends at a restaurant, meeting for coffee, attending church in person, visiting loved ones in nursing homes, shaking hands with acquaintances, and kissing babies.

At this Easter season, we thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sins and be resurrected, just like we are resurrected spiritually  to a new life when we die to our old sinful natures. I pray that our loved ones who have not asked Your forgiveness and have not turned their lives over to You will begin to think seriously about the meaning of life and where they will spend eternity.

Thank You that Your Word helps us understand that nature is groaning while we wait for the return of Jesus to the earth. Those of us who are ready for His coming eagerly await His return. I’m so grateful that Revelation 21:4 tells us that, for the residents of the new heaven and earth, You “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Without the death and resurrection of Jesus we celebrate at Easter, we could not look forward to Heaven.

Thank You for explaining in II Peter 3:9 that it is really your mercy that has held You back from already sending Jesus back and ending the miseries of this life. You want more people to have a chance to turn to You and receive eternal life and the promise of Heaven instead of the regrets of Hell.

Grant us strength until You see fit to remove this pandemic, and help us to show concern for our neighbors affected by it.

Amen.

There is a great song that has recently  caught my attention. It seems to be very appropriate for this period of time. I hope you will listen to it by clicking on the Youtube video below.

Scriptures taken from the Holy bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. TM

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