By Rev. Antonio Reyes, LCP President
March 25, 2020
Most gracious and loving Father, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, You have invited us to call upon your name in times of trouble and you will deliver us and we shall glorify your name (Psalm 50:15). Thank you for your invitation in Jesus’ name and that’s the reason I come to you in humble heart, knowing that you will hear and answer my prayer.
Father, you know everything. You know everything about me.
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you (Psalm 132:1-18).
Father, you know what is happening in the world today. You know everything about the Virus that is affecting all of humanity. Some are already affected physically, some mentally and emotionally, some are already stressed out, some are becoming hopeless and some died. As if, then, that COVID-19 is in control of the world and everything in it. The Crown of death is sowing fear. Luther said, that which we fear more than God becomes our god. Is COVID-19 our god already?
Lord God, heavenly Father, we come before you acknowledging our sins of fearing the Virus and other things more that you and we come asking for forgiveness for Jesus’ sake and to promise that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, you and you only will we fear, love and trust, no matter what happens.
I come to you also, in behalf of those affected by COVID-19. You are the great physician and healer. You have healed people of old and you can do the same today. You are the same God – yesterday, today and forever. Let this problem come to pass that we may rejoice with you and glorify your name forever.
Protect those serving on the frontline – around the world – doctors, nurses and others in the medical profession. Protect and bless the government representatives (the military and police, the WHO and DOH personnel). Give wisdom and good health to those working for the antidote of the virus, that they may develop the cure. And lastly, I pray for your mercy and grace in Jesus, because it is really you who heals our sicknesses. You have already given us the CROWN OF LIFE, through faith in Jesus, when He died and rose from the grave.
Help us to be patient… my soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel (the New Israel, the Christians) hope in the Lord for in him there is mercy and plenteous redemption.
Come, Lord Jesus, save us from this predicament. Amen.
