Psalm 55:16-17
As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me.
Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.
Left Alone - C.H. Spurgeon
“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.”
Daniel 10:13
Are you depressed because of some illness or great trial? Then you have forgotten that God has already provided. While you are asking, “Where can I find a friend?” or “Who will come to my rescue?”, that friend is already there. While you are questioning, “How can I get out of this dilemma?”, God as already solved the problem. The riddle has been answered, the question explained. You are complaining about a difficulty that has already been resolved by the divine hand.
Some believers are totally surprised when God delivers them. Their faith is small, and they are surprised that God would use something simple. They say, “How could it have happened? Why didn’t I think of that? Why was the answer so close but I failed to see it? I was thirsty, and I cried to God for rain, while all the time there was this well bubbling up with water.”
If you are troubled, ask God to help you trust when you cannot see Him. Ask God to help you yield to His will. Ask that His will throws a shadow over your soul, and let that shadow be your will. May we learn to be content in any state (Philippians 4:11), for this is the best foundation for true happiness.
Oh, for grace to feel that if we do not know when God will deliver us, then it is none of our business! If God knows, that is enough. God has not made us the providers, and He does not intend us to hold the helm. We are to follow Him, not lead. We are to obey Him, not prescribe.
Your deliverance is near. But if it tarries it will be a richer blessing. Ships that are long at sea are more heavily loaded, but they carry a double cargo of blessing. Plants that grow quickly last only a little while. Perhaps the blessing that is taking so long to spring out of the soil of your expectancy will last all your life.
-- C. H. Spurgeon
COVID-19 Crisis Prayer - Pastor Mike
Today's Prayer
Psalm 67
As our country transitions toward a “new normal,” there will be growth pains. These will be caused by conflicting interests on many levels. On the most basic level, the need for continued protection (i.e. a quarantine) will compete with the need to return to work, to earn a livelihood. Continuing the quarantines will also compete with the need for children to return to school. In this instance, there will be a need for general agreement between school administrators, teachers, parents, and in some cases the children themselves.
Because the transition period will be incremental, some will find their interests are not met as swiftly as the interests of others (already, we see divisiveness over which businesses are designated “essential services” and which are denied such status.
We need to pray for patience, for unity, and for a continued respect for authority. The coronavirus is not half as dangerous as a breakdown in respect for authority followed by civil. Pray for at least these 3 areas of recovery:
Our Homes: Pray for a restoration in our homes of relationships between parent/child as schools reopen with new challenges to students. Pray for jobs and sustenance to be restored to homes and families. That that crisis would give us all a new appreciation for the provision of God and our dependence upon Him. That is crisis would cause great gratitude in our hearts for the Lord’s gifting regarding the various jobs we can do and service we can do for His glory. Pray for great peace and patience to rule and reign in our homes during this transition time in our country.
Our Church: Pray the Lord would gain great wisdom to know when it is safe and acceptable to open the church doors and assemble together again. Pray He would cause the doors to open very soon. Pray that He would sustain us in our personal and house worship of Him. Pray the Lord would strike down any plan of the enemy to divide or confuse the church, to keep the doors shut and the assembly halls empty. Pray we would have a great appreciation and gratitude for the Lord allowing us to assemble in His name to glorify Him. Pray there would be a renewed desire to enter in the houses of the Lord and worship when that day comes.
Our Society: Ask the Lord for great care and understanding as people emerge from their homes and begin to move about in society once again. Pray the Lord would bring peace in our land and that He would discomfit the heart that is prone to contention and division. Pray that when the restrictions are lifted in our community, people will find ways to bring unity in the land. Pray the Lord would be the center of those ways toward unity. Pray that those who have been isolating themselves would emerge and engage in society. Pray that the Gospel would be preached in our society in public venues and in private conversations as people socialize once again with each other. Pray for safety upon our community as we navigate this extraordinary time.
Romans 12:18 (ESV) 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
“God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your Way may be known on earth, Your Salvation among the nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You” Psalm 67: 1-3