Prayer For Strength To Continue With Physical Distancing and Other Measures To Bend The Curve
Friday April 17, 2020
Today's challenge is to continue to do what is right. Today's encouragement is that God is with us to help us do that when we find it difficult. We have the example of Jesus who continued through misunderstanding, betrayal, arrest, torture, and cruel death on the cross – he did what was necessary for us. He continued through the toughest of times and so He understands what we are going through.
Here we are in week 5 here in Canada of the restrictions and social isolating that have been necessary to bend the COVID-19 curve.
The weather is warmer and sunnier and many of us long to be outside enjoying all the season has to offer. We miss family members and can't wait for that first cup of tea and a hug. Here comes another spring weekend with sunny weather and we have to continue to follow the Provincial health officer's orders and guidance and stay inside as much as possible, practice physical distancing when we go anywhere to do essential business, and stay away from so many we love who need to be in isolation for their physical well-being.
We see some attitudes shift as people want to get back out and get to work and earn a living again and get "back to normal." We’ve watched all the Netflix shows we’re interested in. We’ve spent more hours on the couch and eaten more food than we maybe should have to try to deal with the routine and boredom of one day turning into the next with no change on the horizon. We see government officials and others doing things we’re told not to do and it gets under our skin. If they’re not doing these things and making these sacrifices, why should we? Irritants have surfaced at times in our homes and relationships because we are spending so much time under one another’s feet. It's tough to maintain these strict measures. It’s even tougher to maintain a positive attitude and to have patience with others who can get on our nerves at times.
So, let's ask for God's help so we can continue to do what’s right today:
Heavenly Father, as we come close to another weekend of physical distancing measures and social isolation, we confess that we're a bit tired of it all and wishing it could end soon. The prospect of more weeks of this is hard to face. And so on this day we're asking you, Lord to help us to continue to do what is right even when we don't feel like it. So many lives depend on that. Help us to follow the practical measures we have been ordered to follow by health officials and also help us to continue to be caring and kind to others around us.
We see evidence of others seeming to not follow the rules that we are trying hard to follow even though we find them hard and it stirs up things in us that make it a challenge to be calm, be kind, and be safe. Today, we need Your strength and Your heart, God, if we are to encourage rather than condemn, lift up rather than tear down, and be all that You are asking of us today.
We're so grateful God that You work in all things for our good. We wish our circumstances could be different than what they are but we simply stand still today and acknowledge that You are God, that your are working in us, and that as we surrender to Your will, You will continue with us and will work in us until the transforming work of your love is fully realized in us. If you can put up with us - with all our ups and downs - certainly we want to give ourselves to standing with you and standing up for You today. You are faithful and good on the good days and during the hardest times.
God, we're asking for the gift of endurance and perseverance to continue to do all that we should to bend the curve of the COVID-19 virus but even more important, would you help us, in all our affairs, to continue to do Your will. Each of these days is a gift we have been given with an opportunity attached to it. The COVID-19 virus has not stolen the opportunity of this day from us because it is something that You, God, give us and that You help us make the most use of. Help us to have eyes to see, the ability to recognize our part, and the willingness to meet today's challenges with energy, calmness, and kindness, trusting that when we do that, we will receive many blessings and more reward than we can imagine today.
Whatever else we accomplish today, help us to continue to follow you, to continue to grow in your love, to continue to allow our hearts and minds to be shaped according to Your’s, Lord Jesus, and throughout the day to continue to be thankful for all we have. Amen
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