Now that we are in this global health crisis, it occurs to me that I have a unique opportunity to engage in Prayers for the World with the people who will visit my website who also are longing to pray for the world as I am. God is glorified when His people join with Him and agree with Him for the good that needs to take place in the world. So, I welcome you to join me on this serious but exciting journey in prayer with the Lord of Heaven and Earth.
The sense of leading I have had for this has not been for the typical intercessory approach, though there is certainly nothing wrong with the ways we have always prayed for the world. God hears all prayers. But there has been a longing in my soul to pray differently. I am still not quite sure what that means. So, I invite you to learn with me as we explore what may be new territory in prayer.
The first place I have turned for my approach is to the teachings of Jesus Christ. He instructed his followers to enter into a place where they could pray in secret, saying: “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:6, NIV). Some translations call it a closet, but any secluded place is fine. Pray in the bathroom if that is your best option! He said that God who is unseen, and sees what is done in secret, also hears our prayers in secret. We have a unique opportunity to do that in light of our current, far-reaching quarantine restrictions.
Do you wonder why He taught us to pray in seclusion? I assume it is because we need to focus our attention fully on God and the needs of the world—and put ourselves in position to hear from Him in our hearts without disruptions. To do that, we need to block out all distractions and give primary focus to our prayer. So, this does not support our most popular way of praying—on the run! This is not to say that praying on the run is wrong and unheard by God, but it is to point out that Jesus said that the most effective and fruitful way to pray is in silence and solitude.
Once that understanding has been accepted, the next thing is to learn from Jesus how we are to pray. It was in this teaching on prayer that He gave the world the beautiful “Lord’s Prayer.” We have made it into an iconic prayer, which is a wonderful tradition; but it was primarily an outline for prayer. It gives us the main framework for prayer that gets results.
The other point He stressed about prayer is that it doesn’t require a lot of stilted, sacred-sounding words. It should be real and honest—no flowery words that sound good and make us feel pious or to impress others—but words that rise up in response to the reality of the inner world within us and the outer world around us. Words of praise and worship may bubble up—and should—but in times of crises like these, the words that rise to the surface may come from the depths of fear, desolation and anxiety.
So, let us pray in the outline of the Lord’s Prayer. I encourage you to get alone with this prayer, shut the door, tape a sign on it saying, “Please do not disturb”—and pray to our Father God who hears and answers His people when they pray from the heart. Pray any way you feel led, but I invite you to use this prayer to begin:
Our Father Who Art in Heaven:
Our Unseen Father Who art in Heaven, that realm that both transcends and envelops us, I offer my utmost reverence to you.
Hallowed be Thy Name:
In this space of time in silence and seclusion, I open my soul to welcome all that you are. I worship you and hold your Name above all names.
Thy Kingdom come:
Lord, the scriptures attest that the Kingdom of God is wherever you reign, and that where you most want to reign as Lord is in our very lives. To the best of my understanding, I crown you as King of kings to reign supremely over my heart, soul, mind and strength.
Thy Will be done on Earth as it is
in Heaven:
I long with deepest desire to align myself with Thy will as the angels in Glory yield to your purpose in everything. And I long to live in a world where Thy will is done as it is in Heaven, a world where there is peace, health-giving food for all, pure water and clean air, equity in all human affairs, humane treatment of animals, responsible use of the planet’s resources, suitable housing, adequate clothing, meaningful work, selfless service, joyous worship and joyful hope in life. Help me set my shoulder to the wheel to move in that direction.
Give us this day our daily bread:
This prayer is set in the plural, as I can only pray well when I pray it for someone else. As long as I have food on my table at least once a day, I have more than many. So, with thanksgiving for the blessings of nutrition that I am able to enjoy, I pray for guidance for ways that I and the world can become more aware and compassionate about the problem of world hunger. Giving doesn’t seem to be the end solution. Change of heart in human affairs is the long-term answer—in government, yes, but also in our individual choices to use less of the world’s resources. I pray for a change of direction in the farming and food-processing industries—to respect the land, rid the food chain of toxins, and use humane ways of raising and processing meat—cutting back on consumption and eliminating waste. Bless those who are doing it right.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us:
Lord, the world around us has been getting farther and farther from your way of love, and I myself know that I too am far from what you have created me to be and do. Like the Apostle Paul wrote in the New Testament, “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18-19, NIV). So, I confess my own need for forgiveness and commit myself to forgiving others as you forgave on the cross, saying, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34, NIV).
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
And here, O Lord, we come to today’s global crisis. We truly need you to deliver us from evil. Help me not give into the temptation to fear and wring my hands in despair, but to remember that you have given us many great and wonderful promises and instructions on how to proceed in difficult times.
Recalling a promise in the Old Testament points us in the right direction: “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” (II Chronicles 7:11-15, NIV).
Lord, this verse has often been used as threat more than a promise. It is couched in the ancient view of condemnation rather than the New Testament view of redemption. Help us hear the real message—the wonderful promise that it is—that you will hear from heaven and heal our land when we turn to you. We are made aware here that we have a part to play, though. The right attitude is to pray in a spirit of humble, honest admission of the ways we have contributed to our world spinning out of control. We did not cause the coronavirus directly, nor do we believe you sent it as punishment, but it is the result of human activity without your guidance. So, we humbly seek your wisdom, to live under your guidance.
We are able to see more clearly when the den of noise ceases, the frantic rush to jobs and entertainment ceases, movies and video games seem hollow in the face of reality. Now we begin to know in our heart of hearts that we have been in error and need to seek your guidance. So, Lord, through this experience, help us begin to envision ways to live that bring peace and harmony on earth for all mankind.
We do believe it is possible, and now we clearly see that this is the greatest good we can seek for ourselves and others. Getting rid of the coronavirus will be a wonderful day, and we trust that you are leading us in ways to accomplish that. But changing our lives and creating a better world is our ultimate need.
Hear my prayer of confession, in all humility, that I have failed to do as you created me to do in all circumstances. I look to you for the right ways to move forward, and I pray that you will heal our land of this dreaded and deadly COVID-19 virus.
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever.
I trust that you will hear our prayers, and I give you unwavering praise and adoration for now and throughout all Eternity.
Amen.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
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