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Evening of March 24th
Tomorrow marks the first day of the 21 day fast that some churches and individuals in Papua New Guinea are taking part in. That is actually tonight our time. I thought, if the Lord permits, I would make a post about praying regarding the Corona Virus each of those 21 days. Today I would like to ask that we pray that the virus is settled down and contained by Easter.
Why by Easter? Here is something interesting.
Two pastors that we know (but who do not know each other) specifically prayed that the virus would be settled down and contained by Easter.
An individual asked for this same request.
And the last interesting thing – the 21 day fast proposed for the some of the churches and people of Papua New Guinea ends just two days after Easter.
The Corona Virus has symbolized anxiety, depression, and fear of death for many people. Easter (often referred to as Resurrection Day) symbolizes hope and life – eternal life through Jesus Christ and hope of life because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Would you join me in prayer for this virus to be quieted down and contained by Easter? Thank you so much!
Evening of March 25th:
Praise
For the second night of prayer regarding the Corona Virus, my focus will be on praise. That may seem strange at this time; but God is still good, and praising Him is still the right thing to do.
One passage of Scripture that praises the Lord is Psalm 100. Here are the beautiful words of this Psalm:
“A Psalm of praise.
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Some reasons to praise the Lord include the following:
He is God.
He made us.
We are His people and His sheep; we did not make ourselves.
The LORD is good.
His mercy is everlasting.
His truth endureth to all generations.
In II Chronicles 20, Judah and the people of Jerusalem are facing a battle with the Ammonites and the Moabites. Yet, they purposely chose people to go before the army and to sing and praise the Lord. Verse twenty-two says, “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”
The people were to believe in the LORD their God, believe His prophets and to praise the beauty of holiness, that is, God’s holiness. They praised because God’s mercy endures forever.
So, I hope that tonight you will join me in praising God for His holiness and for His mercy that endures forever. I also praise God that He is in control and that it is His power that can permit this trial to continue or that can stop the spread of the virus, even in an instant if He wants to. God is still good, and His mercy endures forever.