Statewide Day of Prayer
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. …
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
~James 5:13, 16
Most Christians believe in the power of prayer, but, unfortunately, many fail to utilize it as often as they should. And how can that be when God tells us that our prayers are powerful and effective?
With so many families and communities affected by the COVID-19 crisis and the extreme sheltering orders that have been mandated over the past several weeks, prayer should become a daily (if not hourly) priority for us (1 Thess 5:16-18). We are very grateful to State Representative Darren Bailey‘s leadership in calling for a day to pray for our state, our first responders, and everyone who is experiencing loss as a result of the pandemic.
This Day of Prayer is an opportunity for people of faith across the state to intentionally pause and pray to the God of mercy and hope. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:12 that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their prayer.”
We have an amazing God who listens to the prayers of faithful and obedient believers. (John 9:31; 1 John 5:15; Jeremiah 29:12-13)
The Psalmist wrote:
I love the Lord, because He hears
My voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.
~Psalm 116:1-2
We have a loving and merciful God of compassion who wants us to turn to Him and take shelter in Him as our refuge and our strength. He is our sure rock in the midst of any storm, the light that pierces every darkness, and an anchor of hope for those who contend with despair. We should embrace every opportunity to bring our appeals before Him.
Prayer Guidance Points:
Pray for Revival: We may not be able to see it now, but God is working good in this season of COVID-19 (Romans 8:28). Pray that people around the world would seek God during this pandemic and economic shut down. Pray that the lost would find great hope and eternal peace in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
For the Glory of God: Pray that this crisis would be a wake-up call to lukewarm believers and would-be seekers. Pray that God would draw people to Himself in a powerful way. Pray for the spread of the Gospel. In this time of great anxiety and uncertainty, pray that God’s people would be ready to meet the world with the comfort and hope that only the good news of Jesus Christ can offer.
For those in Authority: As they decide how to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, pray for President Donald Trump and his teams of health and economic advisors. Pray for Governor J.B. Pritzker and his advisors. Pray for local city officials throughout the state. May the Lord give them an abundance of wisdom and discernment so that the “stay in place” order will quickly diminish and life can get back to normal.
Peace: May God Almighty reach out to all those who fear that they are sinking beneath waves of anxiety. May they receive that courage, resilience, and healing grace that can only come from the Prince of Peace.
Greater Faith: Pray that through this we would better understand what it means to “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). Scripture teaches that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7). Pray for enduring faith during this season of heightened fear, anxiety, and confusion. Appropriate precautions should be taken, but Christians must continue to rely on God and trust His purposes and plans (Rom. 8:28).
Medical Workers: Pray for healthcare workers and first responders who are on the front lines. Pray for protection for their health and protection for the health of their families.
News Media: Christians should pray for those in the news media. Pray that reporters and journalists would accurately report updates about the status of the virus and not seek to peddle conspiracies, politicize the threat, or stoke fear where it is unwarranted.
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