Bible Prayers: pandemic

Showing posts with label pandemic. Show all posts

April 23, 2020

Praying for our Leaders – and theirs

As the pandemic continues to affect our country and almost every other country too, tensions increase and blame abounds, spreading the contagious dis-ease of bad attitudes and depressing outlooks.

We can contribute to the general malaise, or, as Christians, we can take another tack. Here’s how the Apostle Paul prayed in troubling times.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 – a prayer of Paul

from the King James Version of the Bible

I exhort therefore, that, first of all,

supplications, prayers, intercessions,

and giving of thanks, be made for all…;

For kings, and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable

life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight

of God our Saviour; Who will have

all to be saved, and to come

unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator

between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all,

to be testified in due time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 – a prayer of Paul

paraphrased into current language

Remind us, Lord,

to make our requests –

our prayers,

intercession,

and thanksgiving –

for everyone,

including our leaders

and all those in authority,

so we may live

peaceful,

quiet,

godly,

holy lives.

Surely this pleases You,

God our Savior,

for You want everyone

to be saved

and come to know

the truth in You.

You alone are God,

and we have One

mediator between You

and other people –

the One, Christ Jesus,

Who gave Himself

as a ransom for us

and everyone.

May this Bible prayer remind us to pray for our leaders, whether we like them or not, and also to pray for those in authority in other countries too, yes, including tyrants!

May this Bible prayer remind us to pray for everyone God puts on our minds.

P.S. Even if I forget to say so, the Bible Gateway website has long eased and aided my search for Bible prayers and other biblical topics.

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April 14, 2020

Praying for God to redeem

This Bible prayer of Moses speaks for us, too, as we seek God’s protection and redemption from all ills, including COVID-19.

Deuteronomy 9:26-29 – a prayer of Moses

as translated in the King James Version

I prayed therefore unto the Lord, and said,

O Lord God, destroy not thy people

and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed

through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth

out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;

look not unto the stubbornness of this people,

nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:

Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say,

Because the Lord was not able to bring them

into the land which he promised them,

and because he hated them, he hath brought them out

to slay them in the wilderness.

Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance,

which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power

and by thy stretched out arm.

Deuteronomy 9:26-29 – a prayer of Moses

paraphrased into everyday English

O Lord God, You have redeemed Your people.

Your mighty hand has released us from all that

enslaved us, so please don’t do away with us now!

Think about Your faithful servants who came before us

and forget about the stubbornness – the wickedness

so obvious at this moment. Otherwise, people will say

You weren’t able to help or give us what You promised.

They’ll say You hate us and brought us to this place

to die. But, Lord, we are Your people, Your family –

the ones You rescued with Your enormous power

and open arms.

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March 13, 2020

Priestly Prayer for God’s People

At the moment, the world seems to be in a panic over a virus, causing man-made systems, businesses, and services to shut down. As health officials tell us, we need to wash hands with soap every time we’re out and keep ourselves – and the air in our homes – hydrated.

Most important, however, we need to decide if we truly do trust God, Who made us, cares for us, and gives us this prayer:

Numbers 6:24-26 – the priestly prayer-blessing of Aaron over God’s people (KJV)

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon thee,

and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:24-26 – the prayer of Aaron (paraphrased)

Lord, we pray You bless and keep us.

We pray Your face shines graciously upon us.

We pray You look kindly toward us

and give us Your God-peace.

Shalom.

May this priestly prayer, given to the Jewish high priest Aaron and received by Christians too, give us the peace needed in any troubling time.

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