COVID-19 and the Call to Prayer

This morning in my prayer time, the Lord put a song in my heart. It’s a hymn from my childhood that is a word for this present time. The lyrics are as follows:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!

Come, all who hear; brothers and sisters, draw near, join me in glad adoration!

~

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning,

sheltering you under his wings, oh, so gently sustaining.

Have you not seen all that is needful has been sent by his gracious ordaining?

~

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;

surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do as with his love he befriends you.

~

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!

All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!

Let the amen sound from his people again. Gladly forever adore him!

("Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" Joachim Neander)

As the Church worldwide has begun its journey through Lent, our church has been thinking about God’s call on His children to be pray-ers. Many of us have made a pledge to spend 15 minutes a day in prayer—just talking and listening to our Heavenly Father. 

We’ve made that pledge because we are humbled and awed by the fact that God chooses to do much of His work in this world through His beloved children. That means we need to be plugged into the source of strength, wisdom, and love. 

Given the climate of today, where schools and churches are closing and store shelves are cleared out of toilet paper and bleach, it seems to me that God is inviting His children to stop and pray. 

Psalm 46 declares this truth: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging...‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” 

Be still. Pray. Take heart. Hold to faith. Praise the Lord who alone is the King of creation. He is your health and your salvation. Scripture declares, by Christ’s wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24). 

Through Christ, God has restored us to fellowship with God. In the midst of life’s disruptions, do not let fear have a foothold. Do not allow the Devil an inch. We are the children of God! We are prophets, priests, and kings—co-heirs with Christ. We are ambassadors of the Kingdom, agents of reconciliation; we are the people who stand on the wall and declare to the world where salvation lies. 

Salvation cannot be found in the stock market, deliverance cannot be found in the joy of your team being crowned number one. Even education, while essential and good, is not the source of wisdom. 

The Church is the Church whether or not it meets in a building, because the Lord is the King of creation and we are HIS. His sheep. His people. His body. His. No matter what, His. 

Therefore, do not be afraid, but join together with your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world and pray as ONE: from living rooms, prison cells, hospital beds, government offices, and standing in front of the empty shelves at your local grocer. PRAY. 

Do you hear the voice of God calling? Can you guess what COVID-19 is really all about? It’s quite simple really. God longs for His people to pray.  “Let the amen sound from His people again! Gladly forever adore Him.” 

May the Peace of Christ rest in our hearts and homes as we meet with our Father in prayer!